Syamsul Huda M. Suhari, Gorontalo – Thousands of supporters of a Gorontalo mayoral candidate attacked and occupied state television TVRI Gorontalo station at Jl. HB Jassin, Gorontalo City, on Monday night. Several journalists suffered physical violence, intimidation and threats during the incident.

Supporters of incumbent Mayor Adhan Dhambea and his running mate, Indrawanto Hassan, arrived at the TVRI Gorontalo station at around 7:15 p.m., local time, on Monday, and entered a studio where a live broadcast was underway.

Members of the mob ordered the journalists, who had filmed the violent incident, to erase the recordings. No action was taken by police.

On Monday, around 3,000 supporters of Adhan Dhambea-Indrawanto Hassan held a convoy across Gorontalo City since 6:20 p.m., local time, despite the election campaign mute period beginning yesterday.

The mob headed to the TVRI Gorontalo office to protest a recent ruling issued by the Gorontalo State Administrative Court (PTUN) it had aired.

The PTUN had accepted lawsuits filed by two other candidate pairs against the Gorontalo Elections Commission (KPUD) that had approved candidate pair Adhan Dhambea-Indrawanto Hassan to run in the Gorontalo mayoral election. (asw/ebf)