JP\/2\/kaur<\/p>\n
Failed candidates detained over Bengkulu riot<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police say they detained on Thursday four people accused of
\ninciting a riot in Kaur regency, Bengkulu province, involving
\nthousands of people protesting the result of the recent regental
\nelection.<\/p>\n
The Bengkulu Police were interrogating the four suspects for
\ntheir alleged involvement in the politically motivated unrest on
\nMonday, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko said in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The four suspects were identified as Yusirwan Wanie, Sahlan
\nSirad, Mukarto and Yusnadi.<\/p>\n
Yusirwan is a deputy head of the Bengkulu tourism agency, who
\nran for Kaur regent on June 27, with Sahlan as his running mate.
\nThe pair lost to rival ticket Syaukani Saleh-Warman Suwardi.<\/p>\n
Soenarko could not elaborate on the roles of the remaining two
\nsuspects -- Mukarto and Yusnadi -- in the incident.<\/p>\n
"The Bengkulu Police arrested four people today (Thursday) on
\nthe charge of inciting the riot based on a videotape of the
\nincident and eyewitnesses' statements. The Bengkulu Police
\nquestioned the suspects before deciding to detain them," he said.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people attacked and set fire to the house of the
\nKaur legislatures' council speaker, the regent's office, the
\nlocal office of the General Elections Commission (KPUD) and the
\noffice of the Kaur public housing agency.<\/p>\n
One of the protesters said they had intended to meet
\ncouncillors and KPUD members to discuss the election results.
\nHowever, the demonstration turned violent when the officials
\nrefused to come out and meet them.<\/p>\n
Soenarko said it was possible that the police would name more
\nsuspects soon as they had not finished questioning witnesses.<\/p>\n
Bengkulu Police chief Brig. Gen. Adang Syamsu Ratman said
\nother candidates would likely be summoned for questioning over
\nthe demonstration.<\/p>\n
"It is possible that the police will question other candidates
\nif the four suspects mention other names during their
\ninterrogation," Adang said.<\/p>\n
The newly elected Kaur regent and deputy regent Syaukani and
\nWarman are being investigated by the police for allegedly buying
\nvotes during the campaign period.<\/p>\n
In spite of the ongoing probe into the vote-buying case, the
\nKPUD and the local legislative council approved the election
\nresults and declared Syaukani and Warman the winners of the
\nregental election.<\/p>\n
Adang said the police had completed their investigation into
\nthe alleged vote buying and were prepared to submit the case
\nfiles to prosecutors.<\/p>\n
However, the inauguration ceremony for the new regent and his
\ndeputy has been postponed until the security situation returns to
\nnormal in Kaur.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, police in South Halmahera regency, North Maluku,
\nhave arrested 16 people allegedly involved in a separate violent
\ndemonstration on Sunday against the results of the regental
\nelection, Soenarko said.<\/p>\n
The suspects were identified as Ramli Adam, Adi Adam, Alan
\nSumadayo, Moh. Idrus, Mansur bin Hamid, Ikram Musa, Abdul Hamid
\nKhamid, Kholid Ahmad, Akmal, Ikram, Badrun Tholib, Hasanuddin
\nAmanah, Moh. Guntur, Moh. Dardani, Fandi Mohammad Saleh and Kasim
\nLessy.<\/p>\n
Separately, Vice President Jusuf Kalla expressed concern on
\nThursday over violence and protests staged in regions against the
\nresults of the recent local direct elections.<\/p>\n
He urged all relevant institutions, particularly KPUDs, to
\nperform their duties to the best of their abilities to avoid
\nelectoral violations, which certain people could use to their
\nadvantage.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp2kaur-1447899208",
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