Activist, bureaucrat add heat to election<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Two more civilians -- architect-cum-activist Marco H.
\nKusumawijaya and the incumbent West Nusa Tenggara governor Harun
\nAlrasyid -- registered themselves as candidates for city governor
\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Council chairman Edy Waluyo, an Army major general, also
\njoined the race.<\/p>\n
Marco said should he be elected governor he would make Jakarta
\na clean city, both environmentally and bureaucratically.<\/p>\n
During the registration, Marco was accompanied Jakarta
\nResidents Forum (Fakta) chairman Azas Tigor Nainggolan and the
\nhead of the urban division of the Jakarta Legal Institute,
\nTubagus Haryo Karbyanto.<\/p>\n
Harun said he was still seeking the approval of President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, who is currently in Europe, as required
\nby the gubernatorial election procedure. Megawati is scheduled to
\narrive home Saturday.<\/p>\n
"The approval is still being processed. I hope it can be
\ncompleted by Monday," said Harun, the former Jakarta deputy
\ngovernor for economic and financial affairs.<\/p>\n
The gubernatorial election committee has extended the
\nregistration period from Friday till Monday to allow candidates
\ntime to complete their requirements.<\/p>\n
Another reason for extending the registration period was
\nbecause the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan), which has 30 seats on the council, has yet to wait
\nfor approval from its chairwoman, Megawati.<\/p>\n
Megawati had earlier thrown her weight on the reelection of
\nSutiyoso but the party's city chapter chairman Tarmidi Suhardjo
\nstill insisted on nominating himself.<\/p>\n
Harun, who had secured an approval from the West Nusa Tenggara
\nlegislative body to run in the election, declined to name
\nfactions that support him.<\/p>\n
"I have lobbied some councillors personally, but none of the
\nfactions officially support me yet," he said.<\/p>\n
He was reportedly supported by councillors from the National
\nMandate Party (PAN) and the former ruling Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
His said he had joined the election race because "Jakarta is
\nmore challenging".<\/p>\n
Harun, who was installed as West Nusa Tenggara governor in
\n1998, would end his tenure next year.<\/p>\n
Edy, who is also the election committee chairman, said he
\nwould automatically quit his post as the committee chairman by
\nthe time he officially registered himself as a candidate.<\/p>\n
"There will be an election for the committee chairman on
\nMonday," said the councillor from the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI)\/Police faction.<\/p>\n
Edy is reportedly supported by councillors from the TNI\/Police
\nfaction, the United Development Party (PPP) and Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
But the TNI\/Police faction chairman, Ibnu Sumantri, denied
\nthat his faction supported Edy, saying it would be neutral in the
\nelection.<\/p>\n
"We won't officially propose candidates. We allow our
\ncouncillors to choose their own candidates," he said.<\/p>\n
Edy, who will retire before the election, will be replaced at
\nthe council by Col. Dody Harseno, former head of the City Social
\nand Political Affairs Office.<\/p>",
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