Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 09/08/2008 11:00 AM
Police are gearing up for possible security breaches after National Awakening Party (PKB) co-founder Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid ordered his followers to besiege election commission offices across the country.
"We have deployed personnel to guard election commission offices in anticipation of any unforeseen events," National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Abubakar Nataprawira said here Sunday.
On Friday, Gus Dur instructed PKB supporters loyal to him to picket election commission offices across the country, a move he said would deter the General Elections Commission (KPU) from recognizing a rival faction as the official representative of his party.
The move came after the Jakarta State Administrative Court ordered the KPU to postpone a decree recognizing the PKB faction led by Muhaimin Iskandar as an official contender in the 2009 legislative elections.
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ketut Untung Yoga Ana confirmed he had been informed about the possibility of a siege at the KPU office in Menteng, Central Jakarta, but played down the likelihood of conflict.
"According to the police intelligence unit, no such riot will take place. They (Gus Dur's supporters) just want to hold a hearing with the KPU to voice their goals," Ketut said.
Central Jakarta deputy chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Herri Wibowo said at least four companies of police -- or about 400 officers -- were guarding the KPU office.
"Whether it (the siege plan) is true or not, we will deploy personnel to anticipate any disturbances," Herri added.
Security measures around the KPU office have been heightened due to the potential for conflict leading up to the general elections, Herri said.
Gus Dur's daughter Zannuba Arifah Chafsoh Rahman, better known as Yenny Wahid, called for calm on Sunday, saying her father's statement had been misunderstood.
"The siege plan has been exaggerated. The truth is, it's merely going to be our persuasive effort to hold a dialogue with the KPU to make them recognize Gus Dur's camp, as a result of the State Administrative Court ruling," Yenny said.
The KPU has recognized the Muhaimin-led PKB faction's eligibility to contest the 2009 election, after the Supreme Court ruled Gus Dur's dismissal of him as party chairman was illegal.
PKB secretary general Lukman Edy asked Gus Dur on Sunday to withdraw his instruction, saying it was an inappropriate political lesson for the public.
"It was far from Gus Dur's character as a national leader," Lukman said, as quoted by Antara news agency.
Certain individuals had likely convinced Gus Dur to issue such an instruction, he added.
The PKB, the fifth-largest faction in the House of Representatives, has been embroiled in a protracted internal conflict, which began earlier this year when Gus Dur dismissed Muhaimin as party leader. Muhaimin, who is Gus Dur's nephew, challenged the decision.
Both camps held separate extraordinary meetings in early May. Muhaimin's camp renamed the House deputy speaker as the party chairman and elected Azis Mansyur as the party's chief patron. Gus Dur's camp reelected the former president as the chief patron, with Ali Masykur Musa elected the new party chairman.
Muhaimin's camp has registered 485 candidates for election to the House of Representatives with the KPU, while Gus Dur's faction has proposed 78.
PKB secured 52 legislative seats in the 2004 legislative election, with East Java its main stronghold.
Police are gearing up for possible security breaches after National Awakening Party (PKB) co-founder Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid ordered his followers to besiege election commission offices across the country.
"We have deployed personnel to guard election commission offices in anticipation of any unforeseen events," National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Abubakar Nataprawira said here Sunday.
On Friday, Gus Dur instructed PKB supporters loyal to him to picket election commission offices across the country, a move he said would deter the General Elections Commission (KPU) from recognizing a rival faction as the official representative of his party.
The move came after the Jakarta State Administrative Court ordered the KPU to postpone a decree recognizing the PKB faction led by Muhaimin Iskandar as an official contender in the 2009 legislative elections.
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ketut Untung Yoga Ana confirmed he had been informed about the possibility of a siege at the KPU office in Menteng, Central Jakarta, but played down the likelihood of conflict.
"According to the police intelligence unit, no such riot will take place. They (Gus Dur's supporters) just want to hold a hearing with the KPU to voice their goals," Ketut said.
Central Jakarta deputy chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Herri Wibowo said at least four companies of police -- or about 400 officers -- were guarding the KPU office.
"Whether it (the siege plan) is true or not, we will deploy personnel to anticipate any disturbances," Herri added.
Security measures around the KPU office have been heightened due to the potential for conflict leading up to the general elections, Herri said.
Gus Dur's daughter Zannuba Arifah Chafsoh Rahman, better known as Yenny Wahid, called for calm on Sunday, saying her father's statement had been misunderstood.
"The siege plan has been exaggerated. The truth is, it's merely going to be our persuasive effort to hold a dialogue with the KPU to make them recognize Gus Dur's camp, as a result of the State Administrative Court ruling," Yenny said.
The KPU has recognized the Muhaimin-led PKB faction's eligibility to contest the 2009 election, after the Supreme Court ruled Gus Dur's dismissal of him as party chairman was illegal.
PKB secretary general Lukman Edy asked Gus Dur on Sunday to withdraw his instruction, saying it was an inappropriate political lesson for the public.
"It was far from Gus Dur's character as a national leader," Lukman said, as quoted by Antara news agency.
Certain individuals had likely convinced Gus Dur to issue such an instruction, he added.
The PKB, the fifth-largest faction in the House of Representatives, has been embroiled in a protracted internal conflict, which began earlier this year when Gus Dur dismissed Muhaimin as party leader. Muhaimin, who is Gus Dur's nephew, challenged the decision.
Both camps held separate extraordinary meetings in early May. Muhaimin's camp renamed the House deputy speaker as the party chairman and elected Azis Mansyur as the party's chief patron. Gus Dur's camp reelected the former president as the chief patron, with Ali Masykur Musa elected the new party chairman.
Muhaimin's camp has registered 485 candidates for election to the House of Representatives with the KPU, while Gus Dur's faction has proposed 78.
PKB secured 52 legislative seats in the 2004 legislative election, with East Java its main stronghold.