Andi Hajramurni, Makassar – The political situation in South Sulawesi is heating up following the issuance of a ruling by the Supreme Court on a repeat gubernatorial election in the province.
On Wednesday hundreds of people supporting one or the other of two governor-deputy pairs staged rallies in front of the local legislative council building in Makassar.
The first group of protesters were supporters of Amin Syam and Mansyur Ramli, the pair who lost the Nov. 5, 2007 election. A second group, arriving soon afterwards, supported governor-elect Syarul Yasin Limpo and deputy Agus Arifin Nu'mang. Police officers blockaded the council building to prevent clashes.
The Supreme Court ruled in favor on Dec. 19, 2007 of the losing pair who then brought a lawsuit demanding a repeat election in four regencies: Bone, Gowa, Bantaing and Tana Toraja. The Court ruled that a repeat election was in order because there were 8,000 illegal votes. It called for new elections within three to six months.
The South Sulawesi chapter of the General Election Commission had earlier declared Syahrul Yasin and Agus Arifin the victors. They garnered 1.43 million votes, or 39.52 percent of the total number of eligible voters, while the other pair got 1.40 million votes, or 38.76 percent.
Despite the police blockade, an Amin supporter was believed to have been struck by a demonstrator backing Syahrul. Amin supporters tried to retaliate but were prevented from doing so by police. Security officers then forced Amin supporters to leave the area and Syahrul supporters were allowed to enter the building.
They Syahrul backers, who oppose the Supreme Court ruling, asked the Minister of Home Affairs to install Syahrul and Agus on schedule, on Jan. 19. Amin supporters, meanwhile, have urged that the repeat elections be held as soon as possible.
They also complained that the Sulawesi election commission could not be considered independent because it had taken sides in the dispute. The commission should be frozen it said.
The opposing groups of supporters also appeared at the commission's offices but police prevented them from clashing.
The commission said it would try to influence the Supreme Court ruling on the election outcome through a "review note". "We're still preparing a review note. Hopefully it will be registered with the Supreme Court through the South Sulawesi High Court," Mappinawang, head of commission said Wednesday.