Candidates ready for Papua election

JAYAPURA, Papua: After a racial dispute delayed the process, the Papua General Election Commission (KPUD) officially named on Tuesday five candidates for Papua Governor.

The five candidates are incumbent Jaap Salossa nominated by the Golkar Party, Constant Karma (current deputy governor), Lucas Enembe, Barnabas Suebu, as well as Dick Henk Wabiser.

The last four candidates were nominated by coalitions of several political parties. The five will compete in gubernatorial elections next year and the winner will serve a term until 2010.

The run-up to the appointments of the candidates was marred by a registration dispute in which two of the candidates' running mates were barred from contesting the election because they are not native Papuans. The supporters of the two candidates took to the streets to protest the KPUD decision, but the issue has fizzled out. -- JP