Supporters of gubernatorial candidate angry over rival's induction

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 09/29/2008 11:39 AM  |  National

Mass supporters of North Maluku gubernatorial candidate pair Abdul Gafuradn-Aburrahim Fabanyo protested against the rival pair's induction at the region's House Secretariat building in Ternate on Monday.

They burnt flags belonging to parties supporting Thaib Armaiyn and Gani Kasuba, and destroyed a billboard.

They were blocking the road in front of the building in an attempt to cancel the inauguration ceremony by the Home Minister scheduled for the afternoon.

"We will not let Home Minister Mardiyanto install Thaib and Gani as governor and deputy governor of North Maluka, because they are not the winners of the election. Gafur and Abdurrahim are," said one of the orators.

Separately, Maluku Utara police spokesman Adj. Snr. Comr. Sih Harno said the police were guarding the ceremony.

The police, he said, were allowing the protest to proceed but reminded the public that any violence would be handled with stern action.

The inauguration was intended to overcome the prolonged election conflict in North Maluku.

The vote conflict rose after the General Elections Commission, the provincial legislative council and the Supreme Court failed to decide the winner of the election following disputed vote results in three subdistricts.

The Supreme Court handed over the dispute to the government to solve.

However, supporters of Gafur, who is nominated by Vice President Jusuf Kalla's Golkar Party, took to the streets and staged violent rallies when the Home Minister announced incumbent Thaib as winner. Thaib was backed by the President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party. (dre)

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