Delay elections, say Dayak people

PALANGKA RAYA, Central Kalimantan: Dayak tribal chiefs across the province have requested that the elections of a new governor for 1999-2004 be postponed until after the general election in June and the installment of a new legislative council, Antara said.

The tribal chiefs made the request in an open letter signed by one of them, M. Ranan Baut. They said that though the current governor's term would not expire until July, they did not want to have a new governor until there is a new legislative council as the result of a general election.

"This delay would ensure unity among residents," Ranan said, adding how many of the Dayaks now no longer trusted the current council as it represented collusive practices under the New Order regime. (swe)