3 Regencies in Papua Mountains Threatened by Additional Vote Counting in 2024 Regional Elections

Illustration of the 2024 Election (ANTARA)

JAYAPURA - Papua Police Chief Inspector General Patrige Renwarin said that several districts in three regencies in the Papua Pegunungan Province have the potential to conduct a follow-up vote count (PSS) because an agreement has not been reached regarding the provision of ballots to the candidate pairs for regent and deputy regent.

The noken system in effect in the region changes the traditional voting method. Instead of voting directly in the voting booth, the community agrees to determine the candidate pair that receives their votes.

"With the noken system, the community must first agree to provide ballots to the candidate pair that has been agreed upon," said Papua Police Chief Inspector General Patrige Renwarin, as reported by ANTARA.

To date, there has been no report on the results of the 2024 Pilkada vote count in the three affected regencies, namely Puncak Jaya Regency, Tolikara Regency, and Central Mamberamo Regency.

The Police Chief explained that this situation is still awaiting a decision from the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) and the General Election Commission (KPU). Intensive communication continues to be carried out between the relevant parties to reach an agreement.

"We hope that there will soon be an agreement that is accepted by all parties so that the Pilkada stages can run according to schedule," he added.

Although there were attacks between supporters of the candidate pairs in Puncak Jaya Regency, the Regional Police Chief ensured that the security situation in the jurisdiction of the Papua Regional Police as a whole was relatively safe and under control.

"Security in the Papua Regional Police area is relatively safe, although there was friction between supporters," he explained.

The Regional Police Chief also appealed to the public to maintain a conducive situation and support the peaceful running of the 2024 Pilkada in Papua Pegunungan.