West Sumatra gets new governor

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)