House seat should be vacant: KPU says

House seat should be vacant: KPU says

JAKARTA: The General Elections Commission (KPU) said on
Wednesday that the House of Representatives' seat from the West
Irian Jaya electoral district should be left vacant, following a
row between the Christian-based Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) and
the United Democratic Nationhood Party (PPDK).

KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said the Constitutional
Court decision, which awarded the House seat to candidate Saut M.
Hasibuan of the PDS, at the expense of the PPDK, could not be
revoked by any regulation.

The PDS central board had agreed to relinquish the seat
awarded by the court after learning that vote-rigging had taken
place to swell the votes for Saut. However, the dismayed PPDK
candidate could not recoup the seat. -- JP