Party supporters not ready to quit, verdict protested

Party supporters not ready to quit, verdict protested

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Supporters of Badrul Kamal of the Golkar Party took to the
streets of Depok on Thursday to protest a Supreme Court decision
declaring Nur Mahmudi Ismail of the Prosperous Justice Party
(PKS) the winner of the mayoral election over Badrul.

The protest by about 300 supporters of Badrul and running mate
Syihabuddin Achmad took place in front of the Depok General
Elections Commission (KPUD) office and City Hall

Protesters burned tires, T-shirts carrying pictures of Nur
Mahmudi and PKS banners in front of City Hall on Jl. Margonda
Raya. Some protesters also hurled rocks, water bottles and other
items at the building.

Protesters earlier gathered in front of the KPUD office on Jl.
Raya Sawangan. They denounced the commission for asking the
Supreme Court to review a decision by the West Jakarta High Court
declaring Badrul the winner of the June 26 mayoral election.

"We are protesting here because the KPUD violated regulations
by submitting a case review to the Supreme Court," said the
deputy secretary of Golkar's Depok chapter, Tjetjep Iskandar,
during the protest.

KPUD Depok originally declared Nur Mahmudi the winner of the
election. Badrul appealed that decision to the West Java High
Court, which declared Badrul the winner of the election.

The Supreme Court issued a final and binding decision on the
election dispute two weeks ago, overturning the high court
decision.

Under the watchful eyes of some 30 police officers, Badrul's
supporters protested in front of the KPUD office beginning at 10
a.m. At 11 a.m. they marched to City Hall, some two kilometers
away from the KPUD office. The protest broke up at about noon.

Apart from the burning of tires and T-shirts, and the rocks
and water bottles thrown at City Hall, there was no violence
during the protest, which was supported by Golkar, the National
Awakening Party (PKB), the United Development Party (PPP) and the
National Mandate Party (PAN).

During a protest last Wednesday, there was a minor clash
between supporters of Badrul and Nur Mahmudi.

The chairman of the PKS faction in the Depok City Council,
Qurtifa Wijaya, said the Supreme Court's decision was final and
should be respected by all sides in the dispute.

"Differences of opinion over the result of the Depok mayoral
election are part of the democratic process, but everyone in
Depok must respect the Supreme Court's decision and unite to
develop the municipality," he was quoted as saying by Antara.

Meanwhile, lawyers for KPUD Depok asked the Supreme Court to
deliver a copy of its verdict to the West Java High Court, so it
could be conveyed to the KPUD.

"If the Supreme Court will not hand over a copy of the
verdict, we will go to the Supreme Court and file an official
request today or tomorrow (Friday)," said lawyer Absar
Kartadibrata.