T

he province of South Sulawesi witnessed chaotic scenes immediately after the General Elections Commission (KPUD) declared incumbent Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo and his running mate Agus Arifin Nu’mang the winners of this year’s gubernatorial election.

The pair now has a fresh mandate to govern the province for the next five years, until 2018.

Of the total 4,294,960 votes, Syahrul and Agus secured 52.42 percent (2,251,407 votes). Their closest rivals — Ilham Arief Sirajuddin and Abdul Aziz Qahhar Mudzakkar — returned 41 percent of the vote (1,785,580 votes), followed by Andi Rudiyanto Asapa and Andi Nawir Pasinringi with 6.01 percent (257,973 votes).

“Syahrul Yasin Limpo and Agus Arifin Nu’mang garnered more than 50 percent of the vote, therefore they are automatically declared as the new governor and deputy governor for the 2013-2018 period,” said South Sulawesi KPUD head Jayadi Nas on Thursday.

Out of a total of 6,283,881 eligible voters, 4,345,674 people cast their votes on Jan. 22. The KPUD recorded 4,294,960 of the votes valid.

The declaration was marred by protests launched by a group of people, reportedly supporters of Ilham and Aziz, who claimed that the recent election was tainted by a number of violations. The protesters were enraged as they were unable to get close to Hotel Singgasana where the KPUD was holding a plenary session and announcing the result.

They set alight a parked motorcycle and two cars bearing pictures of Syahrul and Agus, while also pelting houses and stores with stones.

Dozens of police officers were present but could not do anything when the protesters started the
attacks.

Protesters also headed to the official residence of the incumbent governor, but they only made some speeches in front of the house and set off firecrackers.

Security personnel were deployed around the house to anticipate any security threats.

Ilham Arief Sirajuddin, who is also Makassar mayor, said that he accepted his defeat, but he and
his lawyers would examine violations that reportedly occurred during the election.

“We have three days to file complaints,” said Ilham, who is the Democratic Party head for South Sulawesi.

Meanwhile, in Papua, the Papua Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) found three criminal and three administrative offenses.

The criminal offenses include the attack on the campaign team of candidate No. 6, Habel Melkias Suwae and Yop Kogoya in Yahukimo on Jan. 21; the distribution of cash by a supporter of candidate No. 6 at Sinapuk Field in Wamena, also on Jan. 21; and the mob killing of councilor Yosia Karoba in Tolikara regency on Jan. 29 in Gilibandu district.