Denpasar – One person was killed and six others injured yesterday when police opened fire to disperse protesters on the resort island of Bali.

The unrest occurred in the district of Jembrana, 95 kilometer west of Denpasar, when the protesters rallied against the inauguration of a new administrator in Negara, the capital of Jembrana.

Most of the demonstrators were supporters of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). They were angered by the recent election of Gde Winasa as Jembrana regent, claiming he had bought votes ahead of the August 14 poll.

About 1,000 people gathered outside Kesari Meeting Hall, aiming to disturb the inauguration ceremony. Members of the crowd waved banners, chanted slogans and made speeches.

Police were deployed around the hall to prevent the mob from entering. But the angry protesters insisted on getting inside, where some of them began to damage furniture and decorations.

Terrified local government officials and their guests skedaddled to safer places, while the mob chased Gde Winasa and local legislative assembly speaker I Wayan Mawa. When the crowd began stoning the two politicians, police opened fire, reportedly only using rubber bullets.

One of the protesters, I Gusti Ngurah Sena (40), was shot dead and half-a-dozen others were badly injured. Bali Governor I Dewa Made Beratha was on his way to Jembrana when the incident erupted. Informed of the violence, he changed his mind and returned to Denpasar. Despite the death and injuries, the protesters had succeeded – the inauguration ceremony was failed to take place.

Jembrana Police Chief Superintendent Aan Iskandar said the shootings were in line with standard procedures. "It was done to protect state officials," he said, adding his personnel had only used rubber bullets.