Activists reject Sutiyoso as city governor<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto and Novan Imam Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Activists rejected on Thursday the result of the gubernatorial
\nelection in which Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso was reelected for the
\n2002-2007 term by 47 of 84 councillors, in view of Sutiyoso's bad
\nrecord and his status as a suspect in the bloody attack on the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters in Jl. Diponegoro,
\nCentral Jakarta in 1996.<\/p>\n
\"Sutiyoso has a poor track record as Jakarta Governor from
\n1997 to 2002, including his failure to cope with the floods in
\nthe capital early this year as well as his controversial eviction
\npolicy (of slum dwellers between 2001 and 2002),\" said Uli
\nParulian of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute.<\/p>\n
Uli remarked that Lt. Gen. (ret) Sutiyoso did not deserve to
\nbe governor due to his involvement in the bloody July 27 1996
\nattack on PDI headquarters while he was serving as city military
\ncommander.<\/p>\n
Uli also rejected Fauzi Bowo who was paired with Sutiyoso as
\nvice governor saying that Fauzi was a member of Golkar Party,
\nwhich is closely linked to the corrupt New Order.<\/p>\n
\"The public must reject the result of the gubernatorial
\nelection and instead, hold a new election which is conducted
\ndirectly by the people,\" Uli said.<\/p>\n
Wardah Hafidz, chairwoman of the Urban Poor Consortium also
\ncalled on the public to reject Sutiyoso's reelection due to his
\nhostile policy toward the urban poor.<\/p>\n
\"Sutiyoso's priority programs, including his policy to limit
\nJakarta's population, will lead to more violent evictions and
\ndemolition of property to keep the poor people out of the city,\"
\nsaid Wardah.<\/p>\n
Wardah said such a policy was against human rights and
\nconstitutional rights.<\/p>\n
\"Instead of admitting his failure to manage urban poverty,
\nSutiyoso has shifted the blame to urban migration and the poor as
\nthe main cause for deteriorating conditions in the capital,\"
\nWardah said.<\/p>\n
Recalling massive opposition from many groups of Jakarta
\nresidents to Wednesday's election, Wardah remarked that
\nSutiyoso's programs would encounter greater opposition from the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
However, Wardah said that she would not stage a rally against
\nSutiyoso's reelection.<\/p>\n
She was among tens of thousands people who tried to stop
\nWednesday's election in protest of Sutiyoso's nomination.<\/p>\n
The election was marred by violence following a clash between
\ndemonstrators and police officers. At least 25 protesters were
\ninjured during the fighting, while 15 others were poisoned by
\nfood given by an unidentified man.<\/p>\n
Urban observer, Marco Kusumawijaya also warned that Sutiyoso's
\nplan to close Jakarta to migrants from the provinces would be a
\nbad precedence for other big cities.<\/p>\n
\"Other big cities will follow suit and where should the poor
\npeople go?\" Marco blasted, adding that such a policy would create
\nserious social conflict.<\/p>\n
Rasdullah, a becak (pedicab) driver who ran as a candidate in
\nthe gubernatorial election also contended that Sutiyoso's
\nreelection would worsen poor people's lives.<\/p>\n
\"Sutiyoso is notorious for his violence toward poor people.
\nMany more friends of mine will be victims of his hostile policy
\ntoward the poor,\" Rasdullah lamented.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso revealed on Wednesday that he would prioritize his
\nprograms including restricting urban migration; eradicating
\ncorruption, collusion, and nepotism; and improving education and
\nhealth services.<\/p>\n
He also promised to improve public transportation and provide
\nlow-cost apartments.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile City Hall looked quiet on Thursday and Sutiyoso's
\nwhereabouts was unknown. On Tuesday, his whereabouts was also not
\nknown.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/activists-reject-sutiyoso-as-city-governor-1447893297",
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