A rally staged Thursday in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara demanding the legislative elections be postponed, turned sour when police detained a legislative candidate.
The rally was organized by the Love of Tolerance Indonesian Forum.
The police said they were forced to detain Arif Rahman, a candidate from the Islamic Reform Star Party.
Arif was taken into custody as he was about to pour gasoline on two used tires, intending to set them alight close to the governor's office.
Arif, a Muslim leader from East Flores, said April 9 coincides with Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday and three days before Easter.
"April 9 coincides with a sacred day for Catholics," he said.
"The majority should respect the minority."
Arif, a former provincial councilor during the 1999-2004 term, said the rally was meant to urge the central government, the provincial administration and the KPU to revise the date for legislative elections.
Catholic leaders here have sent an official letter to the General Elections Commission (KPU) in Jakarta also asking for the postponement, saying the nationally prescribed election day will clash with the commemoration of Maundy Thursday.
The KPU, however, has rejected the request.
Muslims, who constitute a minority in the province, have supported the request made by Catholic leaders.
The Love of Tolerance coordinator, John Gewar, said his group was urging the governor to immediately facilitate a meeting among community, religious and youth leaders to organize a meeting with the president and the KPU in Jakarta.
Protesters and police officers were caught up in a shoving match when protesters tried to breach the barricade.
Police officers, however, managed to disperse the protesters away.
The East Nusa Tenggara KPUD spokesperson, Djidon de Haan, said the decision to hold the election on April 9 was the jurisdiction of the KPU in Jakarta.
"We have conveyed the matter to the KPU in Jakarta," he said.
