Banten gubernatorial election protested

Banten gubernatorial election protested

SERANG, Banten: More than 500 people of The Oppressed Group
(Keras) and of the Banten Care Society Alliance (Ampibi) staged a
demonstration in the city on Monday, demanding the Banten
provincial legislative council halt the ongoing gubernatorial
election.

The demonstrators, who came from Tangerang, Lebak, Pandeglang
and the city, also demanded Dharmono K. Lawi, chairman of the
provincial legislature and 15 legislators who were transferred
from the West Java provincial legislature, step down because they
did not represent the people of Banten.

Mahdi Ardiyansyah, coordinator of Keras, said the
gubernatorial election had to be canceled because all candidates
were determined not to abide by official procedure.

At the same time, 500 Banten defenders wearing black uniforms
staged a counter-demonstration, demanding the provincial
legislature speed up the gubernatorial election.

The demonstrations forced security personnel to be on full
alert to avoid clashes between the two groups of demonstrators.

Adj. Sr. Comr. Jati Wiyono, chief of Serang Police precinct,
said he had asked coordinators of the two groups to avoid
violence between their supporters.

"The coordinators of the two sides should take account of
clashes among their supporters," he said.

The provincial legislature has picked three from ten pairs of
candidates for governor and deputy governor, who are to be
elected in the near future.

The three pairs of candidates were Ace Suhaidi/Mamas, Djoko
Munandar/Atut Chosiah and Herman Haeruman/Ade Sudirman. --Antara