Nani Afrida, Banda Aceh – Aceh needs at least 10,000 election observers to help ensure just and democratic regional polls in Aceh on Dec. 11, Ikhwanussufa of the Independent Election Committee in Aceh (KIP Aceh) said Friday.

Ikhwanussufa said the number of observers was still far from sufficient, with only 800 registering so far. "The number of registered observers is still very small. We will wait until Nov. 22 because we need at least 10,000 observers to monitor each polling station," he said. Around 10,000 polling stations will open throughout the province on voting day.

Ikhwanussufa said four foreign monitoring institutions had registered at KIP Aceh – the Republican Institute with 10 observers, European Union with eight people, the Asian Network Free Elections (Anfrel) 10 people, and the American consulate with six people. "They are still in the process of applying for visas," Ikhwanussufa said.

Local institutions registering include the People's Voters Education Network with 138 people, Forum of Aceh Non-governmental Organizations (441) and the Aceh Recovery Program (218).

The Aceh Strategy Assessment Center and the Center for the Independent Elections Monitoring Committee have not assigned volunteers yet.

All the observers are set to monitor elections throughout Aceh. This is different from the earlier limited monitoring activities allowed when the province was under military rule.

However, KIP Aceh could prevent foreign humanitarian workers in Aceh from working as observers during the elections in line with joint decrees on foreign observers signed by the Minister of Home Affairs Muh. Ma'ruf and Minister of Foreign Affair Hassan Wirayuda.

"The regulation is intended mainly to prevent foreign humanitarian workers from changing their professions, because Aceh is still in need of their assistance," Ikhwanussufa said.

According to the decree, representatives of other countries are allowed to become observers in Aceh's elections as long as they join accredited observer institutions from their respective countries.

Those from European Union countries must join the EU's Election Observation Mission while those from Asian countries will become part of the Asian Network for Free Elections. Non-nationals will also be required to obtain special cultural visas issued by the Foreign Ministry.

"KIP will only be in charge of authorizing the foreign candidates in line with the ministry's ruling," Ikhwanussufa said.