THE wide smile on the face of Freddy Latumahina, a Golkar Party leader, suddenly disappeared. The news was like a clap of thunder. Afraid he had misheard, he asked Budi Harsono, Golkar Secretary-General, to replay the news item. "It's true Pak, we've lost a seat in Papua," said Budi.

On Tuesday afternoon two weeks ago, during an inauguration assembly for House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Legislative Council (DPD) members a