Village chief hires wrong man

BANYUMAS, Central Java: A village chief notorious for his gruffness is in trouble for hiring the wrong man to take down 22 United Development Party (PPP) flags last week.

Jatisaba village chief Adi Sasono, 40, a Golkar supporter, gave the man, who turned out to be a PPP supporter, Rp 50,000 (US$20) to take down PPP flags in front of his house.

PPP Banyumas branch deputy chief Suharto Arief said Saturday that he had filed a complaint with the Banyumas regent and Election Supervision Committee over the incident.

Suharto said the chief had told PPP supporter Nasrudin that his safety "could not be guaranteed" if he refused to remove the flags.

Nasrudin said he dared not refuse Sasono when he ordered him to join Golkar before the campaign kicked off on April 27.

"He (Sasono) is unaware that I am still faithful to PPP," said Nasrudin. (wah/pan)