Bogi Rianto and Sigit Widodo, Jakarta – In the aftermath of the Bloody KPU Incident on July 1 on Saturday, July 3, it was announced that the Jakarta police have issued an arrest warrant for Hendri Kuok, the People's Democratic Party (PRD) representative on the Public Election Commission (KPU).

At 9.30am Hendri contacted Detikcom to inform us of the story. "I have heard that a warrant has been issued for my arrest", said Hendri. Hendri also heard he would be abducted by police however he denied the story. "Certainly I have been asked by the police to go with them, but I refused because there was no arrest warrant", said Hendri.

The matter was confirmed by National Workers Party representative in the KPU, Bennie Akbar Fatah. "At this time Hendri has been asked to accompany [police], but permission [for this] has not be given by other KPU members", said Bennie. According to him Hendri's capacity at the time of the Bloody KPU Incident must be seen as that of a KPU member who met with demonstrators. "If the police want to question Hendri, they will have to come to the KPU [offices]", he said.

Security forces have accused Hendri of provoking the PRD demonstrators because he gave a short speech at the demonstration. Hendri and the PRD representative on the National Election Committee, Aan Rusdianto, had given a guarantee that their would be not trouble if the PRD demonstrators entered the grounds of the KPU. However the negotiations stalled and the Bloody KPU Incident occurred.

On Friday Hendri appeared on the television program Seputar Indonesia (Indonesia Roundup) along with Police Brigadier General Togar Sianipar but the charge that Hendri had provoked the demonstrators was not touched upon. When contacted by Detikcom the police could not confirm [if an arrest warrant for Hendri had been issued].

[Translated by James Balowski]