General Election Commision’s Explanation Regarding Sabu Raijua’s Elected Regent Who Is Still A US Citizen

Acting Chairman of the KPU Ilham Saputra (Photo: Diah / VOI)

JAKARTA - The elected regent of Sabu Raijua Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Orient P. Riwu Kore, is reportedly still a United States (US) citizen. This was confirmed by the local General Election Supervisory Agency.

Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU) Ilham Saputra has not been able to confirm or deny this information. It's just that, he said, the General Election Commission of Sabu Raijua Regency has followed up by making a clarification to the Koupang City Department of Population and Civil Registration Office during the nomination.

Based on the results of a report from the NTT Provincial General Election Commission, Orient P. Riwu Kore has an Indonesian citizen (WNI) identity card (KTP) residing in Kupang City.

"The General Election Commission of Sabu Raijua has followed up by clarifying the agency that issued the document. In a joint clarification report stating that the elected regent is indeed an Indonesian citizen, the address matches the ID card", Ilham told reporters, Tuesday, February 2.

Ilham said, when Orient has an ID card and can be verified, then he passes the conditions for nominating a regional head. "In principle, the General Election Commission is correct, that is, it has made a clarification to the authorities, namely Department of Population and Civil Registration Office", said Ilham.

However, there are allegations that Orient has two nationalities, namely Indonesian citizens and citizens of the United States.

This is because the General Election Supervisory Agency of Sabu Raijua Regency has traced Orient's citizenship status during the 2020 Regional Head Election candidacy stages on September 10, 2020 to the United States Embassy.

Chairman of the General Election Supervisory Agency of Sabu Raijua, Yudi Tagi Utama, said that his party had just received a reply letter from the US Embassy on February 1, 2021.

"Based on the reply letter, the United States Embassy in Jakarta informed that Orient Patriot Riwu Kowe is indeed an American citizen", Yudi said in his statement.