Jakarta – The Democratic Party has been accused of flirting with the Aceh Emergency Military Command by three Acehnese women’s non-government organisations. They say that political party membership cards are being used as a replacement for the red-and-white identification cards. The party’s voters are also receiving preferential treatment during sweeps [identification checks] by the security forces.

Speaking to the press at the offices of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) in Jakarta on Tuesday February 17, the general chairperson of the Achenese Democratic Women’s Organisation (Organisasi Perempuan Aceh Demokratik, Orpad), Raihana Diani, explained that on a number of occasions they had witnessed Democratic Party card holders receiving preferential treatment from security forces. This occurred for example in the village of Ule-Ule in the Meuraksa sub-district of Banda Aceh city. “This could become a form of coercion by the emergency military command to [get people to] vote for political parties which have the blessing of the military”, she said.

Separately, the spokesperson for Media Aceh Election Watch, Munarman and Jusuf Lakaseng conveyed similar concerns. “The position of [Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security and Democratic Party presidential candidate] Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the person who overseas the central emergency military command is being exploited by the Democratic Party for their own interests”, said Lakaseng.

The director of the Centre for Electoral Reform (Cetro), Smita Notosusanto, also admitted to receiving similar reports. “Moreover it is not just the Democratic Party, but also the Functional Party of National Concern [which has received such treatment]. Cetro will be re-checking these complaints on the ground”, said Notosusanto.

In response to these reports, the deputy general secretary of the Democratic Party, Max Sopacua, explained that his party has never issued such instructions. “We must re-examine this. I will pass on this news to the general chairperson. I myself have only just heard this story on the radio”, said Sopacua. (WIN)

[Translated by James Balowski.]