House urges delay of Aceh elections

House urges delay of Aceh elections

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives' Commission II for home
and regional affairs has recommended the government delay the
direct elections of local executive heads in tsunami-ravaged
Aceh.

Commission member Abdul Gafur said on Thursday the proposed
delay be imposed until the conditions improved in Aceh.

"The home affairs minister must prepare a legal basis for the
delay," he said.

Out of the 20 regents and mayors in Aceh, at least 10 will end
their five-year terms in February. The government has decided
that direct elections for regional heads will start in June at
the latest throughout the country.

The commission made the recommendation after a series of
hearings with the home affairs minister, the state minister for
state administrative reforms, and the state agrarian agency. --
JP