Candidates ready for Papua election

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