Incumbent mayor reelected

JAYAPURA, Papua: Pair M.R. Kambu and Sudjarwo were declared the new mayor and deputy mayor respectively of Jayapura on Thursday. The pair received the most votes in the Jayapura mayoral election on June 28.

Kambu, the incumbent mayor, and Sudjarwo received 28,161 votes. They were followed by Renjaaan and Arobi with 25,428 votes and Rustan Saru and Otniel Meraudje with 15,354 votes. Renjaan was Kambu's deputy mayor from 2000 to 2005.

Kambu and Sudjarwo will be officially installed on Aug. 23.

In response to the announcement by the Jayapura General Elections Commission, several protesters said the election was marred by money politics. They also claimed the election was not fair because many residents never received voter cards.

"We demand this election be repeated," said Marvin Tjoe, one of the protesters.

Direct regional elections were held on June 28 in 13 regencies and municipalities in Papua. Election winners have been declared in 10 of the 13 regions. -- JP