Military chief Maj. Gen. Christian Zebua (Jubi)
Jayapura,1/ 4(Jubi) – The military is on alert for possible troubles in four areas considered vulnerable in Papua and West Papua in the upcoming elections.
These areas are Jayapura city and Puncak regency in Papua province and Manokwari and Kaimana in West Papua province, Cenderawasih military chief Major General Christian Zebua said.
“At the moment the situation in four regions is favorable and hopefully will remain stable,” Zebua said on Tuesday (1/4).
The Papua Military command has 5,000 soldiers on stand-by of total 15,000 army personnel in Papua ready to back up the police in securing the legislative elections on April and presidential poll on July 9.
“Approximately 30 personnel of the unit or platoon levels are also prepared at each police station and about 120-soldier or a police battalion prepared in Papua. The point is we are ready to assist the police in securing the elections,” he said.
To secure the election, Papua Police also alerted two thirds of about 14,000 personnel and has stationed a number of soldiers to the local police stations in an operation code named Operation Steady Brata Matoa 2014.
Previously, Papua Police said there were five vulnerable areas – Puncak Jaya, Puncak, Yapen Islands, Manokwari and Jayapura.
“We deploy more personnel in Puncak Jaya. For example, in each polling station (TPS) there will be 2 personnel, yet in Puncak Jaya, there will be three personnel and they will be backed up by two soldiers. The military personnel will stand by around the polling stations and not at the polling station,” Papua police spokesman Commissioner (Pol) Sulistyo Pudjo Hartono said. (Jubi / Arjuna/Tina)
