Coordinating Minister Asks Indonesian Police Guard Vote Counting

Jakarta (Antara) - Coordinating Minister of Politic Law and Defense Djoko Suyanto has asked the Indonesian police to guard the presidential election vote counting process to avoid potential frauds. "I have asked each personnel of the Indonesian police to closely guard the vote counting process to avoid either violation or fraud," said Minister Djoko Suyanto at the Indonesian Police Headquarter in Jakarta on Wednesday. Djoko directed the police to guard the ballot boxes from the polling booth in subdistricts, districts, to the General Elections Commission (KPU). During the assembly, Djoko also commended the Bali Police Department, which had succeeded in preventing fraud in a poll booth, where an official had tried to put a lot of ballots into the ballot box when other officials were taking a rest. Thus, Djoko said the early prevention of possible frauds or violations was more important during the post-vote process. "Be on the alert, as the post-vote and counting process in the next few days are the times we need to be more cautious," he stressed. Minister Djoko also stressed the importance of cooperation among the security forces, particularly between the police and the military. "The police and the religious figures need to work in tandem, as well as the public figures, in asking the people to maintain peace and order during the counting of votes," he said. (*)