Legislators held hostage<\/p>\n
MEDAN, North Sumatra: Civilian guards of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) are holding hostage
\n16 local legislators representing the party, whom they accuse of
\npracticing money politics during a vote to elect the city's mayor
\nand deputy mayor on Monday.<\/p>\n
The hostage-taking started when the guards, locally known as
\nsatgas, heard that their candidates, Ridwan Batubara and Bahdin
\nNur Tanjung, had lost.<\/p>\n
As if to add insult to injury, the PDI Perjuangan favorites
\nfinished at the bottom of the three-way race, despite the fact
\nthat the party dominated the legislature.<\/p>\n
The majority vote went to the pair of Abdillah for mayor and
\nMaulana Pohan for deputy mayor.<\/p>\n
Of a total of 45 ballots cast, 35 were in favor of Abdillah
\nand Maulana. Ridwan and Bahdin won four votes while the pairing
\nof Zaufan Lubis and Fachri Mudadalam received six.<\/p>\n
The angry guards demanded an explanation from the PDI
\nPerjuangan faction and asked faction members to leave the
\nlegislative building.<\/p>\n
Braving a police cordon, they took over the building's main
\ngate and checked those who were about to leave. For almost two
\nhours, no one, including PDI Perjuangan legislators, were allowed
\nto leave until police suggested a representative of the guards to
\nnegotiate with the legislators.<\/p>\n
As of late Monday, talks to release the hostages were still in
\nprogress. (39\/emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislators-held-hostage-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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