JP\/5\/mundur<\/p>\n
Village heads threaten to thwart Golkar election bid<\/p>\n
Andi Hajramurni
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nMakassar, South Sulawesi<\/p>\n
Dozens of village heads in Enrekang regency, South Sulawesi, have
\nthreatened to resign en masse so as to prevent the Golkar Party
\nfrom winning the 2003 regental election in the district in a
\nprotest against the party's candidate.<\/p>\n
The protesters demanded that Golkar withdraw its support for
\nY.K. Sawati in the regental election scheduled for October. The
\nEnrekang legislative council has yet to set a specific date for
\nthe election.<\/p>\n
Should the party press ahead with nominating Sawati, who
\nchairs the Enrekang branch of Golkar and is also the local
\ncouncil speaker, the village heads said they would resign and
\nthus thwart the party's participation in the regental election.<\/p>\n
The threat was conveyed during a demonstration by the village
\nheads, numbering at least 39, at the South Sulawesi legislative
\ncouncil on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Joining the protest were dozens of activists from various
\norganizations, including the Golkar Renewal Youth Force (AMPG),
\nthe Pancasila Youth group and the Indonesian National Youth
\nCommittee (KNPI).<\/p>\n
The demonstrators claimed that Sawati, 60, is not fit to lead
\nthe Enrekang administration for the 2003-2008 period.<\/p>\n
\"We don't agree with the Golkar nomination because not only is
\nhe not capable, he is also too old. He will certainly not be able
\nto work to the maximum,\" protest leader Syarifuddin Sinring said.<\/p>\n
\"In this mountainous district, how will such an elderly person
\nbe able to visit his constituents when he himself needs a helper
\nto accompany him,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Dasi Jaga, the head of Tallang Rilau village in Bunging
\nsubdistrict, claimed that apart from him and his 38 counterparts,
\naround 75 of the 108 village heads in Enrekang also opposed
\nSawati's regental bid.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Batu Mila village head Hasanuddin in Maiwa
\nsubdistrict said those opposed to Sawati had agreed to boycott
\nGolkar's campaigns in the 2004 elections in the regency.<\/p>\n
\"If the Golkar faction insists on nominating its current
\ncandidate, we will resign en masse and ban the erection of the
\nparty's attributes in our areas,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Sawati is expected to challenge the reelection bid of
\nincumbent Enrekang regent, Iqbal Mustofa. Three other candidates
\nwill also contest the election.<\/p>\n
Sawati won the support of the South Sulawesi provincial
\nchapter of Golkar, but the protesters claim that most people in
\nthe regency wanted Iqbal to retain the post, saying he is \"more
\nprofessional and capable\" than the Golkar-backed candidate.<\/p>\n
\"We think that Iqbal is still capable of leading Enrekang. But
\nif he has to be replaced, it must not be by Y.K. Sawati,\"
\nasserted Syarifuddin.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp5mundur-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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