Police arrest KIP Chairman of East Aceh

Police arrest KIP Chairman of East Aceh.

BANDA ACEH -- Police officers had arrested the chairman of the Independent Election Commission (KIP) of Aceh Provincial District in East Aceh, identified as Ismail Sag for carrying ballots without the procedure required by regulations.

"Information about the arrest of the East Aceh KIP chairman was true. We received the information at about 5.00 a.m. local time that (Ismail) was arrested when police officers conducted raids in the region," Aceh provincial KIP deputy chairman Basri M Sabi said here on Tuesday.

According to Basri, the East Aceh KIP chairman was arrested when he drove a car containing the ballots for the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI/senators), the House of Representatives (DPR RI) and the Aceh Representative Council (DPR Aceh).

"The ballots must be accompanied by the voting committee, including police officers. However, Ismail brought the ballots by a car without any witness," Basri stated.

Basri said he didn't know why Ismail broug ht the ballots unattended.

"It was sure he did something without the due process. The police officers were right to arrest him," Basri remarked.

The Aceh provincial KIP was currently waiting for the results of the questioning conducted by the East Aceh police force.

Hopefully the incident will not disrupt the legislative polling on April 9, 2014, Basri said.

Indonesia will hold a legislative election on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, and a presidential election on July 9, 2014.

This year, the General Election Commission (KPU) had held 15 political parties in Indonesia as eligible to participate in the elections.

Three of them are local parties for the Aceh electorate, including the Aceh Party (Partai Aceh-PA), the Aceh People's Party (Partai Rakyat Aceh-PRA) and the Aceh Sovereignty Party (Partai Daulat Aceh-PDA).

The other 12 parties are the National Democratic Party (Nasdem), the Nation's Awakening Party (PKB), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS ), the Indonesian Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP), the Golkar Party (Golkar) and the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra).

Also included in the line-up are the Democratic Party (Demokrat), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP), the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), the Crescent and Star Party (PBB) and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI).