Papua voter registration lack funds

JAYAPURA, Papua: Authorities in Papua were unable to register all voters for the 2004 general elections by the April 30 deadline, saying they needed an extra Rp 6.5 billion (about US$730,000) to complete the process.

Head of the Papua branch of the Central Bureau of Statistics, Mudjiandoko, said on Thursday that around two thirds of the 3,661 villages in Papua had been registered.

He said the province had been given Rp 5 billion for the task but the money did not cover all expenses due to the remoteness of many of the villages in Papua.

To register the remaining 1,168 villages, the province would needed another Rp 6.5 billion, he said.

Mudjiandoko said that officials had to travel by plane to reach the villagers. He added that the Puncak Jaya regent had donated Rp 1.3 billion to charter a plane that could reach the remote villages in the regency. -- JP