House backs Balinese, urges probe into fixed election<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives strongly urged home minister Hari
\nSabarno on Friday to heed the ruling by the Denpasar
\nAdministrative Court that the swearing-in of governor-elect Dewa
\nMade Beratha be postponed until allegations of bribery during his
\nelection were investigated.<\/p>\n
House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said
\nthat the police and the prosecutor's office in Bali should also
\nspeed up the investigation into the case and to announce the
\nsuspects, if any be found, as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
"As a matter of fact, we (the House) intend to seek more
\ninformation on the allegations, and it is very fortunate that
\nconcerned Balinese have presented us with evidence in the case,"
\nhe told reporters after a meeting with Bali Corruption Watch
\n(BCW), Transparency International Indonesia (TI Indonesia) and
\nthe Foundation for Press and Development Study (LSPP).<\/p>\n
Also attending the meeting was his fellow House deputy
\nchairman from the Reform faction, A.M. Fatwa.<\/p>\n
In response to the public outcry against widespread reports of
\nbribery during the gubernatorial election, the Denpasar
\nAdministrative Court issued a directive on Aug. 15, urging the
\ncentral government to delay the inauguration of Beratha and Alit
\nKusuma Kelakan as governor and deputy governor of the island
\nprovince for the 2003-2008 term.<\/p>\n
With the backing of the PDI Perjuangan and party chairwoman
\nMegawati Sukarnoputri, Beratha clinched victory in the
\ngubernatorial election on Aug. 6, collecting 31 out of the 55
\nvotes.<\/p>\n
Two PDI Perjuangan councillors admitted that they were forced
\nby the party's central board to vote for Beratha, and were later
\ngiven Rp 150 million each.<\/p>\n
The gubernatorial election sparked a torrent of protest and
\ncriticism as Megawati, who chairs the PDI Perjuangan, supported
\nthe incumbent governor and not candidates proposed by her party.
\nShe cited security and stability reasons as she did when
\nsupporting incumbent governors in Jakarta, Lampung, West Java,
\nCentral Java and East Java.<\/p>\n
Soetardjo also suggested that political parties at the
\nnational level should not interfere in gubernatorial elections.
\n"Let the locals and the provincial legislature decide. They know
\nwhat is best for themselves," he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Minister Hari Sabarno questioned the validity of the
\nadministrative court's ruling, which he said was issued hastily.<\/p>\n
"You should check yourselves whether or not the ruling is the
\nresult of political maneuvers by certain parties. The case was
\nheard in the morning, and the verdict was handed down in the
\nafternoon. How can a decision be made that quickly?" he was
\nquoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
He said that prior to making a decision, the administrative
\ncourt should have summoned both the plaintiffs and suspects. "But
\nin this case, the court directly handed down a ruling," the
\nminister said.<\/p>\n
Despite the court ruling and mounting opposition from the
\npublic, the minister said he would press ahead with the swearing-
\nin of the governor-elect.<\/p>\n
"A minister is the servant of the president. Therefore I must
\ndo what she has already decided," he said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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