PDI-P supporters run amok as candidate ruled ineligible

PDI-P supporters run amok as candidate ruled ineligible

Jemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

Hundreds of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
supporters went on a rampage on Tuesday night in Manggarai, after
their candidates for regent and vice regent were refused
registration by the local General Elections Commission (KPU).
Their candidacy was rejected because they had missed the
registration deadline.

The angry masses hurled stones and vandalized the Manggarai
Council building. Later on, they marched to the nearby Manggarai
KPU building but were prevented from entering the building's
compound by hundreds of police and military personnel.

Despite warnings, the protesters pushed forward towards the
security personnel, prompting some security personnel to fire
warning shots into the air. No fatalities or injuries were
reported during the incident that lasted until Tuesday midnight.
A day later, the situation in Manggarai regency has returned to
normal, although some PDI-P supporters are still assembled in
groups in certain parts of the city.

Stunned by the rampage, the chief of East Nusa Tenggara KPUD
Robinson Ratukore said that the Manggarai KPUD had to take a
stance in response into the mob's demands.

Ratukore argued that the Manggarai KPUD should have bowed to
protester's demand, and reopen registration for the regent and
vice regent candidates in the run up to the Manggarai regental
elections.

He said that Manggarai KPUD rejected the candidacy based on
Government Decree No. 6/2005 on the election of heads of regional
governments. However, this government decree had been revised by
a subsequent decree No. 17/2005 that brought a lot of changes,
including to the format of registration forms.

"On this basis, the registration has to be reopened to
establish fairness in the run up to the Manggarai election,"
Ratukore told The Jakarta Post in Kupang, the capital of East
Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday.

The Manggarai KPUD opened the registration for candidates
running in the regental elections on April 28 and closed it
Wednesday last week.