The Home Ministry, the Papuan Legislative Council (DPRP) and the Papuan People Council (MRP) have agreed to hold a long awaited gubernatorial election in Papua on Aug. 14.
“We have agreed on the timetable for the electoral phases, and have reported it to the Home Ministry,” acting Papua Governor Syamsul Arief Rivai said on Tuesday (01/05).
“The election will be on Aug. 14.”
Syamsul Arief Rivai was sworn in as Papua’s caretaker governor last July, charged with conducting local elections within the province.
Papuan Legislative Council chairman Ruben Magai said that candidate registration would run from May 7 to 13, followed by a selection process from May 14 to 20.
“Papuans want a new governor. We hope the central government will be in Papua from early May to oversee the process,” he said.
Activists have called on Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi to replace Syamsul due to his apparent incompetence and failure to schedule elections.
The Papuan Lawmaker Caucus chairman Paskalis Kossay previously said that the caucus was disappointed with the acting governor’s performance since his appointment in July 2011, complaining about the absence of a fixed schedule for gubernatorial elections.
Source: The Jakarta Post
West Papua News Network 