ID :
53564
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 07:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/53564
The shortlink copeid
FAMED SHAMAN BLASTS POLL SUPERVISORS FOR REMOVING DON'T VOTE BANNERS
Bogor, Apr 2 (ANTARA) - Famed shaman Ki Gendeng Pamungkas came to the local General Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) here on Thursday and berated committee officers for removing banners that called on people to withold their votes from the upcoming polls.
The banners had been put up at strategic points on some of Bogor city's main streets by the Indigenous People's Front (Front Pribumi) which Pamungkas heads.
Panwaslu and Bogor city civil administration security officers had previously taken down the Front's banners along with electoral campaign display materials of other organizations or legislative candidates which were considered to be in violation of municipal public order regulations.
Pamungkas who earned a reputation as a practitioner of "black magic" came to the Panwaslu office alone and on arrival there scolded comitttee officers for removing his organization's banners from the streets.
Standing with his two arms resting on his hips. He told the officers at the office's reception desk, "You, guys, you have no right to take down my banners, I am a non-governmental organization (NGO), not a political party. So don't treat my banners in the same way as you would those of political parties."
The comittee officers remained quiet and some of them only smiled. Moments later, Panwaslu member Priharso emerged from his room and explained to Pamungkas the display of his banners at public places was a breach of city regulations on public order.
"We only carried out orders. If you don't agree with our action, that is your right. But don't protest to us, take your protest to the mayor," Priharso said.
But Priharso's explanations failed to silence Pamungkas who continued to heap verbal abuse on Panwaslu members who had nothing further to say or do in response.
After he felt he had sufficiently spoken his mind, Pamungkas left the Panwaslu office and sauntered home.
Meanwhile, someone had apparently telephoned the police about Pamungkas' visit because not long after he had left, a squad of Bogor city police officers arrived at the Panwaslu office.
The leader of the police, Adjunct Commissioner Lanjar, said Pamungkas' behavior was against the law because he had tried to obstruct the performance of election organizers' duties. "He can be prosecuted based on the General Election Law and perhaps even based on the Criminal Law," Lanjar said.
The Bogor city palice were reportedly going to build a case against the shaman.
The banners had been put up at strategic points on some of Bogor city's main streets by the Indigenous People's Front (Front Pribumi) which Pamungkas heads.
Panwaslu and Bogor city civil administration security officers had previously taken down the Front's banners along with electoral campaign display materials of other organizations or legislative candidates which were considered to be in violation of municipal public order regulations.
Pamungkas who earned a reputation as a practitioner of "black magic" came to the Panwaslu office alone and on arrival there scolded comitttee officers for removing his organization's banners from the streets.
Standing with his two arms resting on his hips. He told the officers at the office's reception desk, "You, guys, you have no right to take down my banners, I am a non-governmental organization (NGO), not a political party. So don't treat my banners in the same way as you would those of political parties."
The comittee officers remained quiet and some of them only smiled. Moments later, Panwaslu member Priharso emerged from his room and explained to Pamungkas the display of his banners at public places was a breach of city regulations on public order.
"We only carried out orders. If you don't agree with our action, that is your right. But don't protest to us, take your protest to the mayor," Priharso said.
But Priharso's explanations failed to silence Pamungkas who continued to heap verbal abuse on Panwaslu members who had nothing further to say or do in response.
After he felt he had sufficiently spoken his mind, Pamungkas left the Panwaslu office and sauntered home.
Meanwhile, someone had apparently telephoned the police about Pamungkas' visit because not long after he had left, a squad of Bogor city police officers arrived at the Panwaslu office.
The leader of the police, Adjunct Commissioner Lanjar, said Pamungkas' behavior was against the law because he had tried to obstruct the performance of election organizers' duties. "He can be prosecuted based on the General Election Law and perhaps even based on the Criminal Law," Lanjar said.
The Bogor city palice were reportedly going to build a case against the shaman.
