Village chief election protested

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)