Indonesia to deploy army troops to beef up security in elections

Indonesian armed forces would deploy a total of 14,000 troops to help police in securing the country's upcoming elections, a high-ranking official of the Indonesian army said here on Wednesday. Indonesian Armed Forces Commander General Budiman said that troops serving at all levels of territorial units have been told to help police in providing security for people during the legislative and presidential elections slated for April and July this year. They've asked to back up police in controlling situation should unrest occur during the elections. He said that the number of troops in the territorial units to be deployed would be in line with police's jurisdiction areas. "At sub district level, we have troops serving in Koramil who would help police. At district level we would engage some 35 troops or equivalent of a platoon, meanwhile at municipal level we would deploy a unit similar to a company level, served by 130 troops," Budiman said, adding that some 400 troops would be deployed at the provincial level. At headquarters level, the army would deploy troops as strong as three battalions and a brigade unit. "The brigade unit would be in standby position, anticipating possible worse situation in the elections. They would be from the Army's Strategic Command (Kostrad) unit," he said, referring to one of the special troop units operated by the army. Indonesia will have a new government as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who have served two five-year terms in a row, is not allowed to run for president as per the country's constitution.