Students reject repeat election

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