KPU incurs debts to regional govts

JAYAPURA, Papua: The legislative election has long been over, but it left behind a problem in Papua province: a huge Rp 2 billion (US$ 210,526) debt to local governments incurred by the central General Elections Commission (KPU).

Papua KPU secretary Hisyam Sangadji said the central KPU ran short of funds in preparing the April 5 legislative election, so it could not pay distribution costs for election materials in the province, including the distribution of ballot papers to remote areas in Papua.

As a consequence, local Papua governments had to make the distribution payments to make the election a success; now they wanted to be reimbursed, said Hisyam. -- JP