More than a thousand surround KPUD office in NTT

The Jakarta Post , Kupang | Thu, 05/15/2008 6:41 PM | National

More than 1,000 demonstrators marched the streets of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara's capital, eventually surrounding the General Election Commission (KPUD) office on Thursday.

The demonstrators were divided into two groups, those for the KPUD and those against. They marched to the KPUD office, waving banners and distributing pamphlets, to convey their political
aspirations.

Those opposing the KPUD demanded the verification of the five governor hopeful pairs registered with the election body to be repeated, while those supporting the three pairs that passed verification urged the election body to continue with the election process.

No members of the KPUD went out to greet the demonstrators and receive their political aspirations. Instead, three riot police platoons were deployed to end the demonstration.

Following the demonstration, the KPUD held a meeting to number the three pairs who passed verification, saying the political campaigns and election day, which is set for June 2, 2008, would
continue as scheduled.

"The governor will go on according to the schedule and after having consulted with the KPUD in Jakarta, the verification of candidates will not be repeated as they were conducted according
to the law," KPUD member Hans Ch Louk told The Jakarta Post.

Frans Leburaya and his running mate Esthon Foennay, who were nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, received No. 1, the pair Gaspar Parang Ehok and Yulius Bobo, nominated by a coalition of small parties, received No. 2 and the pair of Ibrahim Agustinus Medah and Paulus Moa nominated by the Golkar Party, No. 3.(yf/**)

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