West Sumatra gets new governor

Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

PADANG, West Sumatra: After three postponements due to threats
of massive demonstrations, Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi
Soedirdja swore in Zainal Bakar as the new West Sumatra governor
on Thursday.

The ceremony passed almost peacefully, with only about 50
students turning up to rally outside the municipality hall. The
protesters demanded a rerun of the election due to several
damaged ballots.

However, the protest went unheeded.

"Zainal Bakar was elected in a democratic procedure. So we
won't change the outcome," Arwan Kasri, the provincial council
speaker, said. (28/edt)

View JSON | Print