People demand dismissal of regent

BEKASI: Around 1,000 people staged a protest in front of Bekasi Council on Monday, demanding the dismissal of Regent Saleh Manaf and Deputy Regent Solihin Sari.

"The people of Bekasi demand that the council immediately dismiss the regent and deputy regent and hold another regental election," said Bahar E. Haryana, one of the protesters, as quoted by Tempointeraktif.

The protest supported the ruling of the East Jakarta District Court over the suit, which was filed by former Bekasi Regent Wikanda Dharmawijaya against Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno over an allegation that there were irregularities in the regental election.

Saleh said he was not disturbed by the demand as he believed the election was legitimate. He also said that as the ministry had filed an appeal he would wait for the ruling of a higher court. -- JP