Police identify instigators of Kaur elections riots
Police identify instigators of Kaur elections riots
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Police say they have identified three persons who are strongly
suspected of involvement in the Bengkulu riot and will arrest
them to facilitate the investigation if necessary.
Deputy National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko said on
Tuesday that Bengkulu police had identified three people after
analyzing video recordings of the riot that occurred on Monday.
The recordings show the three encouraging a mob to burn and
damage government offices in Kaur regency, according to Soenarko.
"One of them is a public figure but I can't identify him so as
not to disrupt the investigation," Soenarko said.
He also declined to answer a question on whether the public
figure was a unsuccessful candidates in the recent regental
election.
"We questioned eyewitnesses and they confirmed our suspicions
of these three persons' role in the violence," Soenarko said.
The eyewitnesses, he added, were nearby residents and police
officers who said they had seen the three men incite the mob to
violence during their protest," Soenarko said.
Thousands of people attacked and set fire to the house of Kaur
legislatures' council speaker, the regent's office, the office of
the local general elections commission and the office of the Kaur
public housing agency.
The rampage came after a regental elections that saw Syaukani
Saleh and his running mate Warman Suwardi win.
One of the protesters said they intended to meet the
councillors and members of the election commission to question
them about the election result. They could not maintain their
temper, however, after officials refused to come out and meet
with them.
Public services ground to a standstill at the regency
administration offices with most employees opting to stay at home
on Tuesday.
Chairman of the Bengkulu elections commission Zainawi Yazid on
Tuesday called on the public to refrain from violence when it
comes to challenging poll results.
"If one is not satisfied with election results, one should use
available measures according to law. Acts of violence cannot
solve disputes," he said.
Losing candidates are the only parties who have the right to
contest election results in the Supreme Court.
The Kaur "Justice Seekers Forum" said in a statement that the
riot reflected the public's discontent with the poor performance
of councillors and with members of the general elections
commission in administering the election.
Forum spokesman, Sismadi, said the regional poll commission
should disqualify the Syaukani and Warman ticket as an
investigation into their alleged vote buying activities was still
underway.
Despite the ongoing probe, however, members of the elections
commission and councillors approved the election results and
declared Syaukani and Warman the elected regent and deputy regent
respectively.
Sismadi asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to send an
independent team to investigate the dispute.
"We reject the election results and we demand a rerun of
election," Sismadi said.
He warned of another mass rally if their demands went
unheeded.
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Police say they have identified three persons who are strongly
suspected of involvement in the Bengkulu riot and will arrest
them to facilitate the investigation if necessary.
Deputy National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko said on
Tuesday that Bengkulu police had identified three people after
analyzing video recordings of the riot that occurred on Monday.
The recordings show the three encouraging a mob to burn and
damage government offices in Kaur regency, according to Soenarko.
"One of them is a public figure but I can't identify him so as
not to disrupt the investigation," Soenarko said.
He also declined to answer a question on whether the public
figure was a unsuccessful candidates in the recent regental
election.
"We questioned eyewitnesses and they confirmed our suspicions
of these three persons' role in the violence," Soenarko said.
The eyewitnesses, he added, were nearby residents and police
officers who said they had seen the three men incite the mob to
violence during their protest," Soenarko said.
Thousands of people attacked and set fire to the house of Kaur
legislatures' council speaker, the regent's office, the office of
the local general elections commission and the office of the Kaur
public housing agency.
The rampage came after a regental elections that saw Syaukani
Saleh and his running mate Warman Suwardi win.
One of the protesters said they intended to meet the
councillors and members of the election commission to question
them about the election result. They could not maintain their
temper, however, after officials refused to come out and meet
with them.
Public services ground to a standstill at the regency
administration offices with most employees opting to stay at home
on Tuesday.
Chairman of the Bengkulu elections commission Zainawi Yazid on
Tuesday called on the public to refrain from violence when it
comes to challenging poll results.
"If one is not satisfied with election results, one should use
available measures according to law. Acts of violence cannot
solve disputes," he said.
Losing candidates are the only parties who have the right to
contest election results in the Supreme Court.
The Kaur "Justice Seekers Forum" said in a statement that the
riot reflected the public's discontent with the poor performance
of councillors and with members of the general elections
commission in administering the election.
Forum spokesman, Sismadi, said the regional poll commission
should disqualify the Syaukani and Warman ticket as an
investigation into their alleged vote buying activities was still
underway.
Despite the ongoing probe, however, members of the elections
commission and councillors approved the election results and
declared Syaukani and Warman the elected regent and deputy regent
respectively.
Sismadi asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to send an
independent team to investigate the dispute.
"We reject the election results and we demand a rerun of
election," Sismadi said.
He warned of another mass rally if their demands went
unheeded.