Teuku Agam Muzakir, Lhokseumawe – The martial law administration in Aceh will deploy all of its forces to ensure the upcoming general election will be a success in the province, a military official said on Monday.

Expressing his optimism for successful elections to thousands of civilian guards who will help maintain security during the polls here, martial law administrator Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya said he was prepared with a strategy to enhance security throughout the elections in the province.

"Besides some 40,000 security personnel tasked to hunt for rebels, we are ready with about 60,000 civilians assigned to provide protection for voters, election organizers and polling stations," he said.

Endang, a former chief of the Banda Aceh military district, also expressed his pride in the progress made by the province since the imposition of martial law last May.

He said an increasing number of Acehnese residents had registered to serve as civilian guards during the elections, an indication the situation in the province was gradually returning to normal. "In the 1999 elections, residents did not want to become civilian guards. Now the number of registrants is increasing," he said.

Endang conceded that despite military operations in Aceh entering their ninth month, the situation in certain areas of the province known as traditional strongholds of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) remained unstable and prone to security disturbances.

Observers have expressed skepticism about the ability to hold democratic elections during martial law, saying the polls would run smoothly but voters could face physical and psychological pressure from security and paramilitary personnel.