Village chief election protested

TANGERANG (JP): Hundreds of residents of Ketapang village in Mauk district went to the Tangerang regency's office on Thursday to protest the removal of their choice candidate from the race for village chief.

Mimy Chaitamy, the residents' spokesman, said the residents strongly deplored an order by the regency's assistant for administration affairs, Obun Burhanuddin, that their candidate, Mahdani, be omitted from the candidates' list for allegedly having no junior high school diploma.

"It's a bit strange that Mahdani has been forced to quit as he has fulfilled all the requirements and passed a preliminary test for the race," Mimy said.

He admitted that Mahdani did not have a junior high school diploma as required, but said he had studied at a state-run Islamic teaching school for four years.

He also denied an allegation that Mahdani had sold a 38- hectare plot of land belonging to the village.

The election committee should not believe reports from other candidates who want him to fail the test, Mimy said.

"We urge Regent Agus Djunara to continue the election process transparently," he said.

Residents unfurled protest banners as soon as they arrived in several cars at the regency office at 10 a.m.

Mahdani was one of 17 candidates, out of hundreds, believed to have used fake school diplomas to meet requirements in the village chief election in the regency. (41/jun)