JP/2/kaur

Failed candidates detained over Bengkulu riot

Eva C. Komandjaja The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Police say they detained on Thursday four people accused of inciting a riot in Kaur regency, Bengkulu province, involving thousands of people protesting the result of the recent regental election.

The Bengkulu Police were interrogating the four suspects for their alleged involvement in the politically motivated unrest on Monday, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko said in Jakarta.

The four suspects were identified as Yusirwan Wanie, Sahlan Sirad, Mukarto and Yusnadi.

Yusirwan is a deputy head of the Bengkulu tourism agency, who ran for Kaur regent on June 27, with Sahlan as his running mate. The pair lost to rival ticket Syaukani Saleh-Warman Suwardi.

Soenarko could not elaborate on the roles of the remaining two suspects -- Mukarto and Yusnadi -- in the incident.

"The Bengkulu Police arrested four people today (Thursday) on the charge of inciting the riot based on a videotape of the incident and eyewitnesses' statements. The Bengkulu Police questioned the suspects before deciding to detain them," he said.

Thousands of people attacked and set fire to the house of the Kaur legislatures' council speaker, the regent's office, the local office of the General Elections Commission (KPUD) and the office of the Kaur public housing agency.

One of the protesters said they had intended to meet councillors and KPUD members to discuss the election results. However, the demonstration turned violent when the officials refused to come out and meet them.

Soenarko said it was possible that the police would name more suspects soon as they had not finished questioning witnesses.

Bengkulu Police chief Brig. Gen. Adang Syamsu Ratman said other candidates would likely be summoned for questioning over the demonstration.

"It is possible that the police will question other candidates if the four suspects mention other names during their interrogation," Adang said.

The newly elected Kaur regent and deputy regent Syaukani and Warman are being investigated by the police for allegedly buying votes during the campaign period.

In spite of the ongoing probe into the vote-buying case, the KPUD and the local legislative council approved the election results and declared Syaukani and Warman the winners of the regental election.

Adang said the police had completed their investigation into the alleged vote buying and were prepared to submit the case files to prosecutors.

However, the inauguration ceremony for the new regent and his deputy has been postponed until the security situation returns to normal in Kaur.

Meanwhile, police in South Halmahera regency, North Maluku, have arrested 16 people allegedly involved in a separate violent demonstration on Sunday against the results of the regental election, Soenarko said.

The suspects were identified as Ramli Adam, Adi Adam, Alan Sumadayo, Moh. Idrus, Mansur bin Hamid, Ikram Musa, Abdul Hamid Khamid, Kholid Ahmad, Akmal, Ikram, Badrun Tholib, Hasanuddin Amanah, Moh. Guntur, Moh. Dardani, Fandi Mohammad Saleh and Kasim Lessy.

Separately, Vice President Jusuf Kalla expressed concern on Thursday over violence and protests staged in regions against the results of the recent local direct elections.

He urged all relevant institutions, particularly KPUDs, to perform their duties to the best of their abilities to avoid electoral violations, which certain people could use to their advantage.