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AYAPURA: Regional elections in Waropen Island scheduled for Aug. 25 may be postponed to give residents time to recover from an earthquake, the Waropen General Election Commission (KPUD) says.

Local intellectuals said that they had asked the commission to postpone the poll after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit the region on June 16.

“In the spirit of humanitarianism, we propose that the election in Waropen regency be postponed because people are still traumatized. The practice of democracy will not work if people are psychologically depressed due to the quake. The output will not be optimal,” Frans Maniagasi, representative of a group of Waropen intellectuals, told reporters recently.

Papua KPUD head Benny Sweni said they would consult with the Waropen KPUD before submitting a request for a delayed election.

Endorsement of the proposed delay will be required from the Waropen legislative council and regent, Papua’s governor and the home minister. — JP