Indonesian Navy Ship Deployed To Help Distribution Of Election Logistics On Remote Islands

Election logistics were lowered from above the KRI Teluk Wondama-527 to small ships to be sent to islands in Southwest Maluku, Maluku, Saturday (10/2/2024). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian National Army (TNI) of the Navy deployed a number of ships, including three warships (KRI) to assist the General Election Commission (KPU) in distributing election logistics to islands that are difficult to reach by air and land transportation.

From the ranks of the Fleet Command (Koarmada) III of the Indonesian Navy, one warship KRI Teluk Wondama-527 started sailing this week to help distribute election logistics at 13 points in Southwest Maluku Regency, Maluku Province.

The commander of KRI Teluk Wondama-527, Lieutenant Colonel (P) Sriadi, explained that the shipping route for ships, among others, is the waters around Moa Island, Kisar Island, and other islands in Southwest Maluku.

Lieutenant Colonel Laut Sriadi said that not all of the election logistics brought by KRI Teluk Wondama could be unloaded from the ship directly to the dock because not all islands had adequate piers for KRI Teluk Wondama to dock.

In several locations, the electoral logistics in the form of ballot boxes and ballots were transported by small boats (speedboats) / marine safety patrol boats (patkamla) of the Indonesian Navy to the pier / destination.

The commander of KRI Teluk Wondama said that several KPU employees participated on board the ship to distribute election logistics accompanied by representatives from the Southwest Maluku Regency Government, Southwest Maluku Regency Police, Kodim 1511/Moa Island, and the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu).

Not only KRI Teluk Wondama, the Indonesian Navy also deployed KRI Kakap-811 to help distribute election logistics to islands in the Sangihe Regency Islands, North Sulawesi. The logistics distribution using the ship has been going on since Thursday (8/2).

The areas that are shipping destinations for KRI Kakap-811 are Marore Island, Kaiwo Island, Matutuang Island, Kawaliso Island, and Lipang Island.

In the process, the Indonesian Navy ensures close coordination continues between them and local governments, KPU, district/city KPU, and Bawaslu.

In Southwest Papua Province, the Indonesian Navy fleet also assists in the distribution of election logistics, namely KRI Layaran-854, Indonesian Navy Ship (KAL) Wayag, Patkamla Yefman, combat boat, and searider G7.

The Commander of the XI AL Main Base (Lantamal) XIV Sorong, First Admiral of the TNI, Deny Prasetyo, said that the five ships were deployed to help the KPU distribute 1,045 ballot boxes in 22 districts in Southwest Papua, all of which are in Raja Ampat Regency. The ships began sailing on Saturday (10/2).

The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (Kasal) Admiral Muhammad Ali on the sidelines of his activities at Kolinlamil Pier, Jakarta, Tuesday (6/2), ensured that the Indonesian Navy was ready to deploy its ships, starting from KRI, KAL, to Patkamla, to help the KPU distribute election logistics to areas that were difficult to reach via air and land.

"There are KRIs, there are KALs, there are Patkamlas, we are all ready to help, and that is strict coordination with local governments, KPUs, and regency/city KPUs," said Admiral Ali.