Gus Dur calls on his party to boycott the 2009 elections

Jakarta, NU Online
Chairman of the Advisory Council of the People Awakening Party (PKB) KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) called on his party in its all levels to boycott the legislative and presidential elections.

Gus Dur called for the boycott following the decision of the General Elections Commission (KPU) not to recognize his faction of the PKB in the 2009 elections.<>

"The PKB led by the Advisory Council (Dewan Syuro) has no longer been recognized by the Indonesia's General Elections Commission that is followed by General Elections Commissions in regions," Gus Dur told reporters at the headquarters of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) on Wednesday (19/11).

Gus Dur said that the General Elections Commission had committed many violations. The latest violation committed by the commission was in East Java's gubernatorial elections early this month.

"There has been manipulation in the East Java's gubernatorial elections. Data from the National Democratic Institute mentions that there should be some 42 million votes in the elections, but those who were registered just amounted to 15 million. Imagine how big the manipulation committed (by the KPU).

In the meantime Gus Dur also said that he would not campaign for any certain party supporting him as presidential candidate including the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) that names him as one of the party's advisers. (nam)