Council rejects demands for Sutiyoso's dismissal<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Despite strong pressure from activists and the public, the
\nCity Council did not give a serious response to mounting demands
\nthat it should dismiss Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso for his failure
\nto control floods in the capital.<\/p>\n
Council chairman Edy Waluyo said on Wednesday it had to take
\ncare of the flood victims rather than discussing the demands.<\/p>\n
He said that it would take some time before the council would
\nhave the chance to discuss the issue.<\/p>\n
\"The council consists of many factions. We could not decide it
\nquickly and we should conduct a meeting to decide our stance,\"
\nEdy said.<\/p>\n
Even though the council has the power to dismiss Sutiyoso, it
\nis unlikely that it will do so because they have not been
\ncritical of the city administration.<\/p>\n
Besides, they also enjoy many facilities financed by the City
\nBudget.<\/p>\n
Each of the 85 councillors receives a monthly salary of Rp 7
\nmillion, various allowances, an official car and overseas trips.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, 29 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
\ndozens of flood victims staged a protest at the council building,
\ndemanding Sutiyoso's dismissal.<\/p>\n
They also lashed out the council for having no idea about how
\nto handle flooding, accusing the councillors of \"having no
\nbrains\".<\/p>\n
The NGOs included the Urban Poor Consortium, the Indonesian
\nEnvironmental Forum (Walhi), the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, the
\nIndonesian Corruption Watch and the Indonesian Consumers
\nFoundation (YLKI).<\/p>\n
They urged the administration and the council to be
\nresponsible for alleged corruption on several flood control
\nprojects.<\/p>\n
The organizations also demanded direct elections for the city
\ngovernor, councillors and mayors.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, whose five-year term will end in October, has
\nrejected resigning, saying that he would prefer to deal with
\nflood victims rather than considering the demand.<\/p>\n
\"There is no word 'resign' from Sutiyoso. I would not run away
\nfrom my responsibility,\" he told executives of troubled PT Gajah
\nTunggal, who donated Rp 500 million and food for flood victims,
\nat the City Hall on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He said that the NGOs and other people who demanded his
\ndismissal did not represent Jakarta people.<\/p>\n
He said that the company's executives were the real
\nrepresentatives of Jakarta residents.<\/p>\n
\"You are Jakarta residents, aren't you. And you did not demand
\nmy resignation,\" Sutiyoso asked which was then replied with head
\nnods.<\/p>\n
The company's owner Sjamsul Nursalim, a fugitive, is a suspect
\nof a multi-billion rupiah corruption case.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso claimed that he had worked hard during the flood,
\nblaming the press for politicizing the disaster.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso's refusal was contrary to his earlier statement that
\nhe was ready to resign \"in accordance with procedures\".<\/p>\n
A number of flood victims had gladly responded to the
\nstatement as they believed that Sutiyoso should be responsible
\nfor the huge floods.<\/p>\n
The governor is scheduled to read his accountability speech on
\nthe 2001 City Budget in April, but many doubt that the speech
\nwould be rejected by the councillors.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/council-rejects-demands-for-sutiyosos-dismissal-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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