Banda Aceh/Jayapura/Ambon – Violence marred polling day on Monday in several parts of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam in an apparent attempt to disrupt the election, while people cast their votes peacefully in three other troubled areas of Poso, Papua and Maluku.
Suspected rebels shot at least two election officials in Blang Rheum village, Jeumpa subdistrict, Bireun regency, at around 6:30 a.m. "The attackers must be GAM [Free Aceh Movement rebels]," Bireun Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Handono Warih said.
The victims – Muhammad Nasir and Abu Bakar – were taken to hospital after the attack on a poll booth in Blang Rheum.
In Lhokseumawe, soldiers beefed up security by enforcing checks on vehicles traveling to and from the town, known as a stronghold of separatist rebels. A number of military trucks tightly patrolled several locations in Lhokseumawe to guard polling stations. The military also deployed three Bolco helicopters equipped with rockets to monitor the situation in Lhokseumawe amid the elections.
In East Aceh, at least seven children were seriously wounded after a grenade exploded at midday as local people cast their votes in Paya village, Lipah subdistrict.
In general, the legislative election ran smoothly across Aceh despite GAM's recent move to oppose it.
At least 567 former rebels being trained at a military camp in Reuleut village, Kuta Makmur subdistrict, North Aceh, voted in the election.
In the neighboring subdistricts of Sawang and Seuneudon, vote counts were not carried out at village poll booths for security reasons.
In Papua, the election was smooth and peaceful despite a recent attack by a group of 20 men on local Panwaslu official Asriadi Kani and policeman Brig. Anwar while the two were dropping off equipment for the election.
Papua Police Insp. Gen. Timbul Silaen said Asriadi survived the ambush on Saturday in the remote area of Okaba, Merauke regency. But the fate of Anwar remained unknown.
Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Daud Sihombing said security officers released Asriadi along with 10 other residents who had been abducted by the attackers. However, one victim Cornelis Silooy had been found dead, he said.
Sihombing said the police were investigating the incident and hunting the attackers, believed to be members of the Free Papua Organization (OPM).
In Maluku, which was once wracked by sectarian fighting, people cast their ballots peacefully and as scheduled after fears of delays blamed on a lack of election equipment.
Earlier at 9 p.m. on Sunday, two Merpati and Hercules planes landed in Pattimura Airport in the provincial capital Ambon, dropping off an additional 14,000 ballot papers for Tual in Southeast Maluku, and Saumlaki in Northeast Maluku.
"[Due to] the arrival of the additional ballot papers, the election in Maluku should run simultaneously and there will be no voting delays," Maluku Elections Commission (KPUD) chairman Idrus Tatuhey said.
Similarly, people in Poso enjoyed a peaceful and smooth election amid tight security following threats by unidentified people to disrupt voting day. "Praise be to God, the local government's goal of making the election in Poso exemplary for other conflict areas has been achieved," said local administration spokesman Abdul Haris Rengga.