68 register for Jakarta governor's race<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, woman activist Ratna Sarumpaet and a
\nbecak (pedicab) driver were among the last to register for the
\ngubernatorial election in September.<\/p>\n
The 10-day registration for governor and vice governor
\ncandidates ended on Friday with 68 governor candidates and 39
\nvice governor candidates registering for the gubernatorial
\nelection on Sept. 17.<\/p>\n
Over the 10 days, 98 registration forms for governor were
\ngiven out and 49 for vice governor.<\/p>\n
The 68 governor candidates are of various backgrounds,
\nincluding military officers, activists, politicians, journalist
\nand becak driver Rasdullah.<\/p>\n
Also registering at the last minute was Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) central board deputy chairman
\nand legislator Roy B.B. Janis<\/p>\n
Ratna and Rasdullah were supported by non-governmental
\norganizations, as were architect Marco Kusumawijaya and lawyer
\nNursjahbani Katjasungkana who registered as governor and vice
\ngovernor candidates respectively.<\/p>\n
However, the final day of registration also means the final
\nday of public participation in the gubernatorial election.<\/p>\n
The next part of the election process will be determined by 11
\nfactions at the City Council. It is highly likely that the
\nfactions will reject most of the registered candidates.<\/p>\n
Among the 11 factions, PDI Perjuangan is the most influential
\nwith 30 of the 85 seats in the council followed by the National
\nMandate Party (PAN) (13 seats), the United Development Party
\n(PPP) (12), the TNI\/Police faction (nine), Golkar (eight) and
\nsmaller parties (13).<\/p>\n
Rasdullah, chairman of the Jakarta Pedicab Drivers Union
\n(Sebaja), attracted much attention with his interest in
\ncontesting the gubernatorial election.<\/p>\n
\"I'll make the city friendlier for poor people,\" said
\nRasdullah, who is also supported by the Urban Poor Consortium
\n(UPC).<\/p>\n
Ratna, also an artist, claimed that her willingness to run in
\nthe election was motivated by Sutiyoso's candidacy. She
\ncriticized Sutiyoso, who is a former Jakarta Military commander,
\nfor his failures during his tenure, particularly his inability to
\nforesee the big floods earlier this year and minimize the impact.<\/p>\n
\"If Sutiyoso withdraws his candidacy, I will also withdraw,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso -- who reiterated his claim of being supported by
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of PDI Perjuangan,
\nand Vice President Hamzah Haz, chairman of PPP -- said other
\ncandidates had the same opportunities.<\/p>\n
Both PDI Perjuangan and PPP local offices have reportedly
\nbacked other candidates, defying instructions from their leaders
\nto support Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
\"Let us all compete without undermining our rivals,\" Sutiyoso
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Roy B.B. Janis, who has also been named as PDI Perjuangan
\ncandidate along with the party's Jakarta office chairman Tarmidi
\nSuhardjo, said: \"I decided to run in the election because I had
\nto respect the wishes of party supporters who nominated me along
\nwith another 10 candidates in an earlier party meeting.\"<\/p>\n
Two other city officials -- incumbent deputy governor for
\nsocial welfare affairs Djailani and deputy governor for
\nadministrative affairs Abdul Kahfi -- also registered.<\/p>\n
Former National Military Police commander Maj. Gen. Syamsu
\nDjalal, who is rarely mentioned in the media, also registered for
\nthe election.<\/p>\n
\"I am supported by friends. I intend to make improvements and
\neliminate corruption and collusion if I'm elected,\" Syamsu, who
\nis a former deputy chief for intelligence at the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office, said.<\/p>",
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