Gubernatorial elections spark protests
Gubernatorial elections spark protests
JAKARTA (JP): Protests and some violence have erupted in Bali
and West Nusa Tenggara recently over the results of the two
provinces' gubernatorial elections and over the government's
insistence in upholding them.
Numerous groups in Bali have aired their opposition to the
government's decision to approve the recent election of Dewa Made
Beratha as the province's new governor for the 1998/2003 period.
Beratha replaced outgoing governor Ida Bagus Oka yesterday
when he was sworn in by Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid
during a plenary session of the Bali provincial legislative
council in Denpasar.
Syarwan welcomed the protests over the election, saying they
were an exercise in democracy.
He argued, however, that Beratha was the Balinese people's
choice.
"The fact that certain groups have expressed their opposition
to the new governor is normal in a democratic country."
He said that differences in opinion were part of the efforts
at improving national unity.
The minister called on the new governor to continue developing
the island's tourist industry and agricultural sector to improve
the local people's welfare.
The provincial administration had reportedly planned to deploy
1,000 civil servants to help secure the swearing-in ceremony
following threats by anti-Beratha groups to disrupt the
inauguration.
Only dozens of security personnel, however, were seen at the
provincial legislative council compound maintaining order during
the swearing-in ceremony yesterday.
Meanwhile, thousands of students, youths and religious leaders
in West Nusa Tenggara have staged a series demonstrations over
the last two weeks against the election of Harun Alrasid,
currently Jakarta deputy governor, to replace outgoing governor
Warsito.
The demonstrators, who demand a new gubernatorial election,
have pelted stones at the provincial legislative council building
in the provincial capital of Mataram on Lombok island, causing
serious damage to the glass wall and windows.
They say Harun is not popular among the local population and
accuse him of buying votes in the election.
Col. Dadang Sutrisno, the province's police chief, expressed
regret over the damage the protests have caused to the
legislative council building.
"I appeal to the people to stop. Remember how we raised the
money with difficulty to construct this building," he said
yesterday in a dialog with demonstrators. (rms)