Golkar in the lead in Papua

Golkar in the lead in Papua

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

Golkar Party showed a strong hold in Papua as a provisional vote
count on Wednesday showed that seven of the candidates it
supported are likely to win elections in the province's 13
regencies and municipalities.

The seven are Jayapura city's MR Kambu-Sudjarwo; Sarmi
regency's Eduadr Fonataba-Berthus Kyeu-Kyeu; Merauke regency's
John Gluba Gebze-Waryoto; Boven Digul regency's Wilhemus Tuwok-
Amri Karim; Waropen regency's Hengky Wonatorey-Yulianus Kowi;
Yahukimo regency's Ones Pahabol-Daniel Rendeng; and Pegunungan
Bintang regency's Wellington Wenda-Theo Sitokdana.

Out of the seven Golkar-nominated candidates likely to become
the newly elected leaders, five of them -- John Gluba Gebze, MR
Kambu, Eduard Fonataba, Wilhelmus Tuwok and Wellington Wenda --
are old timers, the incumbents in their respective areas.

Only one pair of Golkar's candidates, Benyamin Simatupang and
Amandus Aankat, lost in the Asmat regental election against
Juventus Biakai-FB Sorring, who gained support from the National
Democratic Party (PDK) and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party
(PKPI).

Head of the Jayapura City General Elections Commission, La
Pona, said that the result of the election in the city's four
districts would be confirmed in the next two days. "We're still
waiting for more data from several districts," La Pona said.

But not everybody is happy with the election result.

In a press conference on Wednesday, deputy chief of Musa
Youwe-Nur Alam campaign team, Joko Dasri, claimed that the
election was not valid since 60 percent of 171,610 registered
voters in Jayapura city did not vote as they were not invited to
do so by the KPUD.

"The election should be repeated. It's not about winning or
losing, all we want is a fair election," Joko said, threatening
to bring the case to the Constitutional Court if his team's
complaint was ignored.

Some upset supporters of candidates for regent and deputy
regent Abdon Wambrauw-Hulda Ida Wanggober, Daud Wanma-Joseph
Amsyansum in Supiori regency blocked the only road connecting
Biak and Supiori regencies, causing traffic congestion for eight
hours.

Their candidates lost in the elections to running mates Jules
F Warikar and Julianus Mnusefer, who are supported by the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Prosperous Peace
Party (PDS), Indonesian Democratic Vanguard Party (PPDI),
Pancasila Patriots' Party and Pioneer Party.

Supiori Police chief Comr. Pasero told The Jakarta Post that
the supporters rejected the election result and demanded a rerun.

They finally agreed to remove the road block after the police
agreed to bring their demands to the Supiori General Elections
Commission. "Their demands will be discussed at the committee,
but the most important thing is the road block is removed," he
said.

Meanwhile, four candidates vying for the South Lampung regent
post in Lampung province rejected the election results on
Wednesday, demanding that the South Lampung Election Committee
refrain from officially signing the vote-count result and call
for new election.

The provisional tally of the election, which was held on
Monday, showed the pair of Zulkifli Hasan and Wendy Melfa in the
lead with 39.35 percent.

The four that have lodged the protest are Fadhil Hakim
(Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle), Muchtar Husin
(National Mandate Party, National Development Party), Kiswoto
(Prosperous Justice Party, Reform Star Party) and Syahrul Akhwan
(Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party, Crescent Star Party,
Prosperous Peace Party).

The four claimed the elections were tarnished by bribery,
vote-buying and other violations, such as the absence of nearly
300,000 voter cards out of a total of 800,000 eligible voters.

"If we found that the election was conducted fairly, we would
be ready to step aside. In Natar district, only 50 percent of its
100,000 voters cast their votes. Other indications of unfairness
was by setting up polling stations far from people's houses
(making people reluctant to vote)," Fadhil argued.