Students reject repeat election

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: Around 500 people including students demonstrated on Monday against a planned revote to elect a new governor of Lampung province.

They demanded that the Lampung Legislative Council cancel the planned repeat election scheduled for May 15 and instead hold a direct gubernatorial election after this year's presidential election.

The council has opened the registration of gubernatorial candidates for the revote.

Former Lampung governor Oemarsono, who was backed by President Megawati Soekarnoputri, is vying for the post despite being defeated in the December 2002 election that was won by Alzier Dianis Thabranie.

However, Alzier's victory was annulled by the central government after graft charges were laid against him.

The protesters, involving a number of student groups in Lampung, marched 10 kilometers from Bandarlampung Plaza to the council's building.

The march caused traffic congestion along the main streets across the province's capital city, though it ended peacefully.

Several political parties and NGOs also opposed the plan for the election rerun to replace Alzier who had been elected democratically. --JP