Nabire has no council speaker

NABIRE, Irian Jaya: The Nabire regency has not yet inaugurated Col. Maulud Hidayat, its new legislative speaker, due to an objection by three members of the town's election board.

Paulus Boby of the Golkar faction, Paskalis Butu and Nancy Worabay of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) resisted Maulud's election on Oct. 7, saying he was not a native of the regency.

Maulud represents the Indonesian Military/National Police faction.

A group of locals demanded on Thursday a reelection of the council chairman, otherwise they would take to the streets and stage rallies.

In Medan, North Sumatra, student representatives from five universities insisted that provincial legislators elect their speaker soon.

The council elected Yunus Harahap as its speaker, but some PDI Perjuangan representatives protested the result because only 40 out of 79 councillors were present during the election. (39/eba/edt)