Council accepts Sutiyoso's accountability report<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A change of tune was apparent on Monday as the majority of City
\nCouncil members accepted the accountability report of Jakarta
\nGovernor Sutiyoso despite their earlier criticism of the
\nadministration's performance in 2003.<\/p>\n
Except for the four members of the Justice Party faction, the
\nother 11 factions accepted the annual report, including the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction (PDI-P), the
\nUnited Development Party faction (PPP) and the National Mandate
\nParty faction (PAN), who last week had said they were going to
\nreject the report.<\/p>\n
The Justice Party, which has now changed its name to the
\nProsperous Justice Party (PKS), has consistently condemned what
\nit says are the abundant failures of the administration,
\nincluding the failure to prevent widespread flooding, reduce
\nunemployment and poverty, provide cheap education and health
\nservices to the poor, properly manage sewerage and waste systems
\nand reduce corruption.<\/p>\n
Their stance was quickly followed by the other factions.<\/p>\n
In explaining his factions surprising change of heart,
\nMaringan Pangaribuan of the PDI-P faction said they had
\neventually accepted Sutiyoso's report after the faction had split
\ninto two groups -- one in favor and one against the report.<\/p>\n
\"But, you know, that's politics. It's constant change ... We
\nshould avoid creating any more enemies in the run-up to the
\npresidential election,\" Maringan told reporters.<\/p>\n
He said Sutiyoso would play a crucial role in ensure that the
\nnearly two million eligible voters who had not yet registered to
\nparticipate in the July 5 presidential election got themselves
\nregistered in time.<\/p>\n
Maringan's stance contradicted that of top party executives,
\nwho blamed Sutiyoso's aggressive evictions for the party's
\ndecline in percentage votes in the April 5 legislative elections.<\/p>\n
Currently holding the largest number of seats on the Council,
\nthe PDI-P will be the third largest party on the next council
\nafter the PKS and the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, PAN councillor Soleh Rachman divulged that only
\nfour out of 12 faction members decided to reject the report.<\/p>\n
\"Most of the members highlighted the increase in city revenue
\nand increased funding for poor families, besides improved
\nsecurity,\" Soleh said.<\/p>\n
He denied allegations of outside interference.<\/p>\n
However, the chairman of the non-governmental organization,
\nthe Jakarta Residents Forum, Azas Tigor Nainggolan, deplored the
\nCouncil's decision to accept the report.<\/p>\n
\"These are only short-sighted considerations. Their acceptance
\nof the report will backfire on all these parties,\" Tigor warned.<\/p>\n
He said the people, especially poor people who had been
\nevicted from their homes, would not support these parties in the
\nupcoming presidential election.<\/p>\n
\"The people will not cast their votes for the presidential
\ncandidates proposed by these parties ... These parties have
\nsimply not learned from past experience,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Organized by Fakta, dozens of residents staged a rally in
\nfront of the Council building, urging the Council to reject
\nSutiyoso's accountability report.<\/p>\n
They pointed to his perceived failures to solve the city's
\nproblems, like poverty, flooding and traffic congestion.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso's accountability statement was almost rejected in
\n2002 when he attempted to seek reelection as the city governor
\nfor second term. He only managed to do so after he won the
\nsupport of the three major factions on the Council: the PDI-P,
\nPPP and Golkar Party.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/council-accepts-sutiyosos-accountability-report-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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