ONE-THIRD OF CENTRAL JAVA MILITARY TO HELP MAINTAIN ELECTION SECURITY

Semarang, June 19 (ANTARA) - Diponegoro Military Commander Maj Gen Darpito Pudyastungkoro said one-third of Natinal Defense Forces (TNI) personnel in Central Java would be put on stand-by status to help ensure security during the province's gubernatorial election on Sunday, June 23, 2008.
"The TNI personnel will back up the Central Java Police in maintaining security during the gubernatorial election on Sunday," Daripto said here on Thursday.
However, he added, the number of TNI soldiers assigned to election security duties would not exceed that of police personnel.
Darpito said, if the situation proved not conducive for the election, the TNI personnel would be mobilized to help the Central Java police to ensure security.
But he said no area in Central Java was prone to violence during elections because the people realized that the democratic exercise was not done in the interest of any particular group but for all people.
"The gubernatorial election is not to be held in the interest of any particular person or party but of all people of Central Java, and therefore, maintaining security is not the responsibility of the police and TNI alone but also of elements of the public," he said.
Asked about the neutrality of TNI personnel and their families, Darpito said they had the right to vote but they would remain neutral.