PDI-P supporters run amok as candidate ruled ineligible<\/p>\n
Jemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang<\/p>\n
Hundreds of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
\nsupporters went on a rampage on Tuesday night in Manggarai, after
\ntheir candidates for regent and vice regent were refused
\nregistration by the local General Elections Commission (KPU).
\nTheir candidacy was rejected because they had missed the
\nregistration deadline.<\/p>\n
The angry masses hurled stones and vandalized the Manggarai
\nCouncil building. Later on, they marched to the nearby Manggarai
\nKPU building but were prevented from entering the building's
\ncompound by hundreds of police and military personnel.<\/p>\n
Despite warnings, the protesters pushed forward towards the
\nsecurity personnel, prompting some security personnel to fire
\nwarning shots into the air. No fatalities or injuries were
\nreported during the incident that lasted until Tuesday midnight.
\nA day later, the situation in Manggarai regency has returned to
\nnormal, although some PDI-P supporters are still assembled in
\ngroups in certain parts of the city.<\/p>\n
Stunned by the rampage, the chief of East Nusa Tenggara KPUD
\nRobinson Ratukore said that the Manggarai KPUD had to take a
\nstance in response into the mob's demands.<\/p>\n
Ratukore argued that the Manggarai KPUD should have bowed to
\nprotester's demand, and reopen registration for the regent and
\nvice regent candidates in the run up to the Manggarai regental
\nelections.<\/p>\n
He said that Manggarai KPUD rejected the candidacy based on
\nGovernment Decree No. 6\/2005 on the election of heads of regional
\ngovernments. However, this government decree had been revised by
\na subsequent decree No. 17\/2005 that brought a lot of changes,
\nincluding to the format of registration forms.<\/p>\n
\"On this basis, the registration has to be reopened to
\nestablish fairness in the run up to the Manggarai election,\"
\nRatukore told The Jakarta Post in Kupang, the capital of East
\nNusa Tenggara, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Manggarai KPUD opened the registration for candidates
\nrunning in the regental elections on April 28 and closed it
\nWednesday last week.<\/p>",
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