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AKARTA: Dozens of protesters from several youth wings of the United Development Party (PPP) staged a rally on Thursday in front of the party’s headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, in protest against its decision to endorse retired general Nono Sampono as its candidate for deputy governor in the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election.

The protesters, who represented the Kaaba Youth Movement, the Kaaba Youth Force and the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement, said that as the party had supported South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin as its gubernatorial candidate, it should not have endorsed another out-of-towner as his running mate.

“The endorsement of Alex and Nono has angered the party’s supporters,” rally coordinator Rio said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Rio said the party should pick local talent, like PPP politician and deputy council speaker Abraham Lunggana, instead of Nono.

The Jakarta gubernatorial election will be held on July 11.

PPP, along with the Golkar Party and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), have endorsed Alex and Nono as their governor and deputy governor candidates.