Depok readies for Mayor's inauguration

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Depok General Elections Commission (KPUD) has received a copy of the Supreme Court's verdict on the Depok election dispute and is preparing to inaugurate mayor-elect Nur Mahmudi Ismail.

"We will convey the verdict to the City Council and copies of the notice will also be sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs and West Java Governor Danny Setiawan," KPUD member Abdul Kholik told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

"These are normal steps in the inauguration of a mayor-elect," Abdul said, expressing the hope there would be no more problems with the process.

On Dec. 16, the Supreme Court ruled Nur Mahmudi Ismail of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) had won the mayoral election after a protracted legal dispute over the Depok mayoralty with Badrul Kamal of the Golkar Party.

That ruling threw out an August decision of the West Java High Court to award Badrul and running-mate Syihabuddin Ahmad the posts of mayor and deputy -- after allegations of vote-rigging and fraud.

Kholik said the KPUD would not get involved in the dispute between Nur Mahmudi and Badrul.

"Our task is to convey the Supreme Court's ruling to the City Council. It is up to the council to continue the process. As far as I know the council does not have the right to halt (inaugural) processes," he said.

Meanwhile, about 1,000 supporters of Nur Mahmudi held prayers on Saturday at the former Goro market outside Depok City Hall.

Nur Mahmudi denied the gathering was to counter recent demonstrations by Badrul's supporters. During a protest in front of Depok City Hall last week, Badrul's supporters burned tires, PKS flags and t-shirts bearing Nur Mahmudi's picture.

"It is a religious gathering to pray for peace and a secure Depok," said Nur Mahmudi on the sideline of the gathering as quoted by Tempointeraktif.com.

Since the Supreme Court announced its verdict, Badrul's supporters have protested regularly against the ruling, which they said was illegal.

Under election law, a high court's decision on electoral disputes is normally final. However, in its decision, the Supreme Court ruled that keeping public faith in the courts was more important and accused the high court judges of not properly considering the evidence.

Nur Mahmudi expressed optimism his inauguration as Depok mayor would occur soon.