Maluku locals stage protest over election<\/p>\n
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon<\/p>\n
Protesters scuffled with police in a demonstration by around 500
\nresidents of West Seram regency outside the Maluku General
\nElections Commission in Ambon on Monday when Ahmad Rahanta, the
\nprotest coordinator, was apprehended by the police.<\/p>\n
Upset protesters, who tried to free Ahmad, blocked the police
\npatrol car that carried Ahmad, causing a traffic jam on the
\ncity's main street Jl. AY Patty.<\/p>\n
During the protest some people also set car tires on fire in
\nthe street, startling residents who were still traumatized by
\nprevious conflicts in the city.<\/p>\n
\"I thought there was a building on fire in the street seeing
\nthe black smoke,\" said a resident, Feri Attamimi.<\/p>\n
The protest started at 11 a.m. with protesters calling
\nthemselves the Alliance of Law and Democracy Enforcers arriving
\nat the commission's office to air their dissatisfaction over the
\nWest Seram Election Commission plenary meeting result which
\nallowed candidate Soebeno to contest in the second round of the
\nregency election, the date for which has not yet been set.<\/p>\n
Soebeno is suspected of submitting a forged school diploma
\nfrom STM 75 high school in the Central Java town of Purwokerto
\nand had been named suspect by the police following a background
\ncheck with the school, but his arrest was suspended. In the
\ndiploma, it is stated that he graduated in 1970 while the school
\nwas set up in 1971.<\/p>\n
Soebeno was the strongest candidate likely to win the election
\nin the regency following the first round on June 23. Only two out
\nof the six regental candidates will contest in the runoff.<\/p>\n
\"Soebeno is clearly guilty of using a fake diploma. Why can he
\nstill compete in the election?\" yelled Ahmad Rahanta, the
\nprotest's coordinator.<\/p>\n
He charged that Soebeno, who is supported by the Golkar Party,
\ncould enter the runoff due to the use of \"old ways\". \"This is the
\nNew Order's way of using all means possible to win. We, West
\nSeram residents, will reject him,\" Ahmad said.<\/p>\n
The protesters demanded the Maluku governor and Maluku General
\nElections Commission sort out the election in West Seram regency.<\/p>\n
But after getting no response from the commission members, the
\nprotesters became angry and tried to break through the police
\ncordon while threatening to burn down the commission office.<\/p>\n
\"There's been commission offices set on fire. Don't let it
\nhappen in Maluku,\" said Ibrahim Ruhunussa, a protester.<\/p>\n
The protesters started to cool down when chief of Sirimau
\nPolice, First Insp. La Ode Muhammad told them that none of the
\ncommission members were in office since they were in a meeting
\nwith the governor.<\/p>\n
But the situation became heated when they were stopped by the
\npolice on their way to the governor's office and Ahmad was taken
\naway by the police.<\/p>\n
Following the arrest, the protesters were upset and blocked
\nthe police car. They only calmed down when an officer promised
\nthat Ahmad would only be questioned and not arrested.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maluku-locals-stage-protest-over-election-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}