Local elections in West Irian Jaya delayed

Local elections in West Irian Jaya delayed

The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to postpone local
elections in West Irian Jaya province because the local office of
the General Elections Commission (KPUD) is deemed "technically
ill-prepared" to carry out the elections, initially scheduled for
July 28.

Head of the KPUD Regina Sauyai said the commission was
notified of the ministry's ruling on Tuesday afternoon and would
not challenge the decision. The KPUD had initially demanded that
the central government not postpone the election, claiming that
99 percent of preparations had been made. The ministry is yet to
decide when the province and its six regencies will hold the
elections. -- JP