71 regional heads' tenure extended<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government has extended the terms of 67 regents and four
\nmayors in a bid to maintain political stability ahead of the July
\n5 presidential election.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said on Tuesday
\nthe regents and mayors would remain in office until at least
\nOctober, when amendments to the regional autonomy law should be
\ncompleted, paving the way for elections.<\/p>\n
\"The regional heads' term of office will end between April and
\nJune, but the President (Megawati Soekarnoputri) has already
\nissued a presidential decree extending their terms and
\nsimultaneously delaying the election of new heads until October
\n2004.<\/p>\n
\"This decision was made to maintain political stability during
\nthe upcoming presidential election,\" he said during a hearing
\nwith House of Representatives Commission II for legal and home
\naffairs.<\/p>\n
Hari did not identify the regents and mayors. He added that
\nthe upcoming gubernatorial election in Lampung would take place
\nas scheduled.<\/p>\n
\"The President has approved the gubernatorial election in
\norder to restore security and order in the province,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The government ordered a rerun of the Lampung gubernatorial
\nelection despite a ruling by the Jakarta State Administrative
\nCourt that the central government's decision to block the
\ninauguration of Alzier Dianis Thabranie, who was elected in
\nDecember 2002, was illegitimate.<\/p>\n
Alzier's inauguration was blocked after he was convicted of
\ngraft and using a fake university diploma.<\/p>\n
During the hearing at the House, lawmakers asked the minister
\nto take all necessary steps to ensure the bureaucracy's
\nneutrality during the country's first ever direct presidential
\nelection.<\/p>\n
\"The home minister should follow government regulations, which
\nrequire a commitment to a clean and secure presidential
\nelection,\" the chairman of the commission, Teras Narang, said at
\nthe conclusion to the hearing.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri will contest the election and
\nseveral of her ministers have joined the Mega camp to help her
\nwin a five-year mandate.<\/p>\n
Legislators from the Golkar Party and the National Mandate
\nParty (PAN) have expressed concern that Megawati could mobilize
\nthe bureaucracy to help her campaign for the presidency.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/71-regional-heads-tenure-extended-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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