Polls in Irian villages in doubt

Polls in Irian villages in doubt

MERAUKE, Irian Jaya: The election day in remote villages in
the Merauke regency may have to be delayed because only a few
ballot sheets and boxes have arrived, a local official said on
Tuesday.

R. Gatot Marsigit, chairman of the regency elections
committee, told Antara that most of the ballot boxes were still
stranded in Merauke awaiting seals from Jakarta.

The lack of transportation also poses a major problem to the
delivery of balloting materials to the remote areas, Gatot said.

Villages in coastal areas were reached by boats but the
government has not arranged a way to reach those in the
hinterland.

Gatot said he hoped Jakarta would allow more time to implement
the election process in Merauke.