Jayapura – Three candidate pairs running in the West Papua election walked out during the draw for their candidate ticket numbers in Manokwari on Monday to protest alleged duplicity by the election commission.

They said members of a campaign team for one candidate were also on the election commission and election supervisory committee.

The three pairs of governor and vice governor candidate tickets were Dominggus Mandacan-Origenes Nauw, George Celcius Auparay-Hasan Ombaer and Wahidin Puarada-Herman Donatus Felix Orisoe. Abraham O Atururi-Rahimin Katjong were the only pair who stayed for the draw.

Dance Bleskadit of the Dominggus-Origenes campaign camp said the three pairs had demanded that the National Election Commission (KPU) set up an honorary council to examine members of both the West Papua Election Commission (KPUD) and Election Supervisory Committee (Panwas) who were alleged to also be on one of the ticket's campaign team.

The rescheduling of the election, which will now be held earlier than planned, was an indication of manipulation, he said.

The protesting pairs also demanded that the home minister appoint a caretaker governor to ensure a democratic election because the incumbent mayor was running for reelection.

Despite the boycott, the election commission continued with the draw. "Regulation says that the draw can proceed without the presence of the candidates," commission chairman Thimotius Sraun said.