Floods ruin poll, 1,000 votes lost

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Two polling stations in the Hedam subdistrict in Abepura district, Jayapura, failed to function because of flooding.

"All evidence of voter registration also went under water," a committee official, Yance Lali, told The Jakarta Post.

Some residents were too overwhelmed with sorrow over the loss to vote while others managed to cast votes at other polling stations unaffected by the flooding. Election committee officials were seen busy seeking other places for the refugees to vote.

Hedam district chief Elisabet Tan said more than 1,000 voters from 543 households failed to exercise their rights, adding that one man, Sakarias Sudir, had gone missing.

Meanwhile in Serui, capital of Yapen Waropen regency, two women fainted in waiting crowds as polls began at 11 a.m.

Antara reported that the Cendrawasih University deployed 921 poll watch volunteers in Jayapura regency and the Jayapura township. The University Network for Free and Fair Elections (Unfrel) deployed 354 volunteers for the other 13 regencies. (34)