Andi Hajramurni, Makassar – Four people were injured Thursday when protests against a plan to name the winner of the West Sulawesi gubernatorial election turned ugly. Hundreds of protesters clashed with security officers guarding the province's General Elections Committee (KPUD) office.

Some 1,000 protesters had gathered at the office, demanding to meet the heads of the KPUD and the elections supervision commission. They were planning to ask the officials to resolve all election violations before counting the votes and naming a winner.

However, no commission heads or staff members of the KPUD or the elections supervision commission were in the office. The unhappy protesters then threw stones at the office, causing the police to fire warning shots. The shots heightened the protesters' anger, and they pushed forward in an effort to break the police barricade. The clash injured four people, including two police officers who were hit by stones.

Acting West Sulawesi Governor Syamsul Arief Rivai Bulu said the incident was regrettable but he understood the feelings behind the protest. "Such protests are common in democracy; there are those who are for or against something. But we regret when it turns into a clash," he said.

Syamsul urged the KPUD to release a schedule immediately, outlining when the votes would be counted and the winners announced. He said there was no excuse for the KPUD to postpone releasing the results, since the July 20 vote has been completed. The polling was postponed in Mambi district, Mamasa regency, but has since been carried out.

He also called on residents to behave responsibly even if their candidates lost the election. "If there are violations, take legal action, don't turn to anarchy," he urged.

Since late Thursday, the protesters have remained at the KPUD office, saying they would wait until the KPUD made a decision on their demands.