400 Brimob Troops Deploy to Aceh

BY NURDIN HASAN

Banda Aceh, TAG – Indonesian national police has deployed some 400 mobile brigade (Brimob) personnel troops to Aceh Wednesday in efforts to help safeguard the local polls in the province scheduled 9 April.

The deployment of Brimob personnel dispatched officially by North Sumatra police chief, Ins. Gen. Wisjnu Amat Sastro in Medan, the capital of neighboring province. This is the first group of police troops deployed to Aceh. In the near future, more than 100 Brimob troops from Jakarta headquarters will also be sent to Aceh.

Wisjnu says that it’s usual for the police to deploy troops from one region to another area. “This time to Aceh, because in the near future almost all parts of Aceh to held elections," he said as quoted by Serambinews.

He added there is nothing to worry about police presence in Aceh, a region located on the northern tip of Sumatra island. Precisely Wisjnu said people should be happy, because the additional troops could keep the community more leverage.

The 400 Brimob will be on duty in Aceh until the along-awaited polls process ends. They consist of 100 personnel of North Sumatra, 99 of West Sumatra, 100 personnel of Riau Police and 101 personnel of South Sumatra Police. 

The deployed troops will be on duty between March 18 and June 3, 2012. It may take longer if the situation and condition allow. 

The upcoming elections in Aceh, which are slated for April 9 following a series of delays over political bickering, will see voters across the province turn out to pick a governor, four mayors and 13 district heads.

The along-awaited local polls has been marred by a spate of unresolved shootings and fire-bombings that claimed nine civilians since December. In the latest incident, Lhokseumawe City Council Speaker Saifuddin Yunus was shot and injured in an ambush at his house early on Thursday by two unknown gunmen.[]