Golkar rejects choice of colonel as council chief<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The future chairmanship of the Irian Jaya
\nprovincial legislative council was plunged into uncertainty
\nyesterday when Golkar rejected the chosen candidate.<\/p>\n
The installation ceremony of Col. Robert Sitorus, from the
\narmed forces faction, was postponed indefinitely yesterday after
\nit was boycotted by Golkar legislators.<\/p>\n
Members of the Armed Forces do not vote in general elections
\nbut a certain number of seats in the regency, provincial and
\nnational legislative bodies are reserved for them.<\/p>\n
Golkar faction chief in the Irian Jaya legislative council,
\nDortheis Asmuruf, claimed that the order to boycott the ceremony
\ncame from the party's central executive board in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Asmuruf said the legislative body chairmanship should have
\ngone to Golkar because it was the political organization which
\nwon the election, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces has won the legislative chairmanship race in
\nmany provinces throughout Indonesia for the 1997-2002 term.<\/p>\n
The Irian Golkar chapter was the first to have openly rejected
\nthe prospective chairman. Sitorus beat Golkar's strongest
\ncandidate, Bima, last Friday.<\/p>\n
Golkar had only managed to place two of its councilors as
\ndeputy chiefs. They were Abraham Kuruwaib an TN Kaiway.<\/p>\n
Asmuruf said the Golkar faction had done everything to ensure
\nBima was at the council's helm but to no avail.<\/p>\n
The minority United Development Party (PPP) and Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) did not field their candidates because
\ntheir number of representatives in the council was too small.<\/p>\n
Golkar's central executive board in Jakarta has ordered its
\npoliticians in the provinces to do their best to clinch
\nlegislative chairmanships.<\/p>\n
When asked whether Golkar wanted to hold another election for
\nthe position, Asmuruf said he was awaiting for further orders
\nfrom Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The order to cancel the swearing-in ceremony came from Irian
\nJaya Governor Jacob Pattipi. A letter outlining the decision was
\nput on the legislative council's announcement board.<\/p>\n
PPP and PDI councilors regretted the cancellation, saying that
\ncouncilors represent the voters not the executive board of their
\nrespective political organizations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Col. Sitorus left after reading the announcement
\nthat his inauguration had been canceled. He was unavailable for
\ncomment.<\/p>\n
Provincial council chief Habel Agaki Wanda said that he
\nawaited further notice from governor Pattipi on how the debacle
\nshould be handled. (pan)<\/p>",
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