Government to look into regent election in Riau islands

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi Soedirdja said on Friday he would set up a team to investigate the disputed election of Uzrin Hood as Riau islands regent.

"The government will not make any decision until the team completes its investigation into the controversial election," Surjadi said after meeting a delegation of religious leaders, councillors and informal leaders from Riau islands at his office.

The victory of Uzrin and his running mate Amsar Achmad sparked protests because 15 of 45 local legislative council members had already lost their right to vote when they cast their ballots on Oct. 23.

The 15 councillors have returned to their constituencies on Natuna and Karimun islands, which recently have been granted regency status.

Ghalib Hussein, spokesman for the delegation, told Surjadi they were not against the new regent and his deputy but considered the election to be unlawful for breaching the law on regional autonomy and the radiogram sent by the home affairs and regional autonomy minister.

"We want a fair election and if the two are elected we will accept," he said.

The home affairs and regional autonomy minister had previously sent a radiogram asking the council to delay the election until 15 new councillors were elected.

"But, the regency legislative council ignored the minister's radiogram and held the regency election for unclear reasons," Ghalib said.

Riau governor Saleh Djasid, who also met with the minister, said he had made the decision to annul the regency election because it was against the law.

"The Riau islands regency legislative council is incomplete because it still has 15 vacant seats, mostly belonging to Golkar Party," he said. (rms)