JAKARTA: Indonesia’s presidential election abruptly turned into a tight two-horse race yesterday after the country’s second-largest party suddenly switched its support away from frontrunner Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to his main rival. With Golkar’s substantial support, ex-general Prabowo Subianto now has a slightly larger coalition to campaign for him ahead of the July 9 election than frontrunner Jokowi. For months Jokowi has maintained a significant lead over Prabowo in opinion polls. One recent poll showed Jokowi’s lead had narrowed slightly, although he was still 15 points ahead. Golkar’s move came as a surprise as the party’s chief had earlier suggested he was throwing his support behind the popular Jakarta governor Jokowi, who earlier named Golkar senior party official and former vice president Jusuf Kalla as his running mate.
Thai acting premier rules out resigning
BANGKOK: Thailand’s acting prime minister yesterday ruled out resigning as a way out of a protracted political crisis that is stunting economic growth, as anti-government protesters stepped up pressure to remove him and install a new administration. Thailand is stuck in political limbo following the dismissal of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and nine of her ministers on May 7 after a court found them guilty of abuse of power. Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan has replaced Yingluck as caretaker prime minister, but the anti-government protesters say he has no legal standing and they want a “neutral” government to push through reforms. Niwatthamrong met members of the Senate, which is trying to come up with a way out of the deadlock, but he told them he would not resign. “The current cabinet is legal in every way ... it must stay until a new cabinet of ministers is elected in. We cannot install another prime minister while we have an acting one in place,” Niwatthamrong said in statement following the meeting.
Two Chinese mine workers abducted
YANGON: Activists have kidnapped two Chinese workers at a China-backed copper mine in Myanmar and are threatening to harm them, their firm said yesterday , in the latest eruption of tensions over the controversial project. China’s Wanbao, which operates the Letpadaung mine in the northwestern town of Monywa, said the activists holding the two 23-year-old contractors were demanding the “total halting” of work. The mine has triggered fierce opposition from local villagers due to alleged land grabs and environmental damage, and has raised questions about Myanmar’s reliance on investment from neighbouring China — which gave crucial political support to the former junta. A 21-year-old Myanmar national was also abducted on Sunday but released the same day. Agencies
