PDIP React to Elected Regent's United States Citizenship Fiasco
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4 February 2021 11:27 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - PDIP party DPP chairperson Djarot Saiful Hidayat on Wednesday acknowledged that his party was ‘caught off guard’ after one of its party members Orient P. Riwu Kore had officially been elected as a Regent for Sabu Raijua Regency in the East Nusa Tenggara despite his United States citizenship.
“If that information is true then our party has been caught off guard,” said Djarot to Tempo on February 3.
Djarot revealed that Orient Riwu Kore had only enlisted as a PDIP member briefly before the 2020 regional elections (Pilkada). However, before issuing a party membership one of the main requirements is having an Indonesian citizenship.
“If there were violations or falsified documents, then that must be legally processed by authorities,” said the former Jakarta deputy governor.
He clarified that Riwu Kore’s membership in the PDIP will automatically be illegal if it is proven that he is currently a United States citizen. Djarot also criticized election organizers for failing to properly vet election candidates before granting their candidacy in an Indonesian election.
The United States citizenship status of Sabu Raijua regent-elect Orient Riwu Kore was confirmed by the US Embassy in Jakarta. However, Kore’s status is registered as an active Indonesian citizen in the Home Affairs Ministry’s citizenship database.
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