W. Irian Jaya leaders call for local poll

JAKARTA: A delegation of lawmakers and informal leaders from West Irian Jaya province visited the House of Representatives on Thursday in a campaign to push the central government to immediately allow the implementation of local elections.

The delegation, led by speaker of the West Irian Jaya provincial legislative council Jimmy Demianus Idjie, was met by leaders of the Democratic Party faction in the House.

Jimmy said that the people of West Irian Jaya and the local office of the General Elections Commission (KPUD) were ready and prepared to carry out the elections for governor and regents, and hoped the central government would allow the elections to take place either on Aug. 22 or Aug. 29.

Previously planned elections in the province had been canceled twice by the Ministry of Home Affairs, but no clear reasons were given for the cancellations. Inititally, the vote was supposed to be held on June 27, but that was changed to July 28. But the ministry announced another delay on July 27, without disclosing a new date. -- Antara