Party supporters not ready to quit, verdict protested<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Supporters of Badrul Kamal of the Golkar Party took to the
\nstreets of Depok on Thursday to protest a Supreme Court decision
\ndeclaring Nur Mahmudi Ismail of the Prosperous Justice Party
\n(PKS) the winner of the mayoral election over Badrul.<\/p>\n
The protest by about 300 supporters of Badrul and running mate
\nSyihabuddin Achmad took place in front of the Depok General
\nElections Commission (KPUD) office and City Hall<\/p>\n
Protesters burned tires, T-shirts carrying pictures of Nur
\nMahmudi and PKS banners in front of City Hall on Jl. Margonda
\nRaya. Some protesters also hurled rocks, water bottles and other
\nitems at the building.<\/p>\n
Protesters earlier gathered in front of the KPUD office on Jl.
\nRaya Sawangan. They denounced the commission for asking the
\nSupreme Court to review a decision by the West Jakarta High Court
\ndeclaring Badrul the winner of the June 26 mayoral election.<\/p>\n
\"We are protesting here because the KPUD violated regulations
\nby submitting a case review to the Supreme Court,\" said the
\ndeputy secretary of Golkar's Depok chapter, Tjetjep Iskandar,
\nduring the protest.<\/p>\n
KPUD Depok originally declared Nur Mahmudi the winner of the
\nelection. Badrul appealed that decision to the West Java High
\nCourt, which declared Badrul the winner of the election.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court issued a final and binding decision on the
\nelection dispute two weeks ago, overturning the high court
\ndecision.<\/p>\n
Under the watchful eyes of some 30 police officers, Badrul's
\nsupporters protested in front of the KPUD office beginning at 10
\na.m. At 11 a.m. they marched to City Hall, some two kilometers
\naway from the KPUD office. The protest broke up at about noon.<\/p>\n
Apart from the burning of tires and T-shirts, and the rocks
\nand water bottles thrown at City Hall, there was no violence
\nduring the protest, which was supported by Golkar, the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB), the United Development Party (PPP) and the
\nNational Mandate Party (PAN).<\/p>\n
During a protest last Wednesday, there was a minor clash
\nbetween supporters of Badrul and Nur Mahmudi.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the PKS faction in the Depok City Council,
\nQurtifa Wijaya, said the Supreme Court's decision was final and
\nshould be respected by all sides in the dispute.<\/p>\n
\"Differences of opinion over the result of the Depok mayoral
\nelection are part of the democratic process, but everyone in
\nDepok must respect the Supreme Court's decision and unite to
\ndevelop the municipality,\" he was quoted as saying by Antara.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, lawyers for KPUD Depok asked the Supreme Court to
\ndeliver a copy of its verdict to the West Java High Court, so it
\ncould be conveyed to the KPUD.<\/p>\n
\"If the Supreme Court will not hand over a copy of the
\nverdict, we will go to the Supreme Court and file an official
\nrequest today or tomorrow (Friday),\" said lawyer Absar
\nKartadibrata.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/party-supporters-not-ready-to-quit-verdict-protested-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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