KPU OKs councillors after rigged election

JAYAPURA, Papua: An alliance of 20 political parties that participated in the April 5 legislative election in Mimika, Papua protested the recent inauguration of 25 councillors for the Mimika regency legislature, saying it was against Decree No. 44/2004 issued by the General Election Commission (KPU).

The 20-party alliance objects to the councillors because the KPU already declared that vote-rigging took place in the regency, and thus the "elected" legislators were illegitimate.

Marthen Maturbongs, spokesman for the party alliance, said in a press conference here on Friday that the councillors' inauguration on Nov. 12 was apparently justified by Revised Decree No. 89, which, however, did not have the approval of Papua Governor Jaap Solossa.

"The Mimika regent and the KPU provincial chapter in Jayapura should be held responsible for the recent appointment of the new councillors," he said, explaining that Mimika now has a total of 50 councillors, because the 25 old councillors elected in the 1999 general election have not officially left office yet.

The KPU branch in Mimika has already been dissolved because of vote-rigging in the April election. (JP)