Minister considers ordering revote<\/p>\n
Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Bandar Lampung, Lampung<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno has hinted at proposing a
\nrevote for the new governor of Lampung, in what is being dubbed a
\npolitical plot to bar a dissentious member of President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's party from assuming the top post in the province.<\/p>\n
\"The chance for a revote is open,\" Hari said on Wednesday in
\nthe provincial capital of Bandarlampung after introducing his
\naide, Tursandi Alwi, as the acting governor to local senior
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
The appointment of Tursandi followed the central government's
\ndecision to suspend the swearing in of the newly elected head of
\nthe Lampung administration, Alzier Dianis Thabrani.<\/p>\n
Alzier, who chairs the Lampung chapter of Megawati's
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan),
\ndefeated last December the incumbent governor, Oemarsono, whose
\nrenomination was sanctioned by Megawati.<\/p>\n
Barring Alzier from taking over the gubernatorial post are
\ncorruption charges the police have brought up against him.<\/p>\n
Hari said a revote to elect the new head of the Lampung
\nadministration should be decided upon after the police process
\nthe graft cases involving the elected governor.<\/p>\n
The minister denied widespread allegations that Megawati's
\ngovernment intervened to suspend the inauguration of Alzier and
\nhis elected deputy, Ansory Yunus.<\/p>\n
Hari said the suspension came after he received a report from
\nthe Lampung police on the alleged involvement of Alzier in the
\ncorruption cases, including the embezzlement of Rp 10 billion in
\nfunds from state-owned fertilizer company PT Pusri and an illegal
\nautomotive business.<\/p>\n
The minister defended as \"normal\" the National Police
\nheadquarters' decision to name Alzier as a suspect in the cases,
\narguing that not only did the Lampung police file charges against
\nhim, but so did the police of other provinces, including Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Alzier was scheduled to be sworn in as the new Lampung
\ngovernor on Jan. 25, one day before his predecessor, Oemarsono,
\nended his five-year term in office.<\/p>\n
The Lampung legislative council voted on Dec. 30 for Alzier as
\ngovernor for the 2003-2008 term.<\/p>\n
Apparently unhappy with the outcome of the ballots, Megawati
\npostponed the issuance of a presidential decree to approve
\nAlzier's appointment.<\/p>\n
The lack of endorsement by Megawati has delayed the
\ninauguration of the newly elected governor indefinitely.<\/p>\n
The President only issued a decree recommending Oemarsono to
\nleave his post and another decree authorizing Minister Hari to
\nappoint an acting governor in charge of administrative control in
\nLampung.<\/p>\n
Branding Alzier a dissentious member of the Megawati-led PDI
\nPerjuangan over his win in the gubernatorial race, the President
\nsuspended him as chairman of the party's Lampung branch, and also
\nsuspended four of his senior colleagues.<\/p>\n
Alzier's lawyer, Eddy Rifai, slammed what he called a
\n\"political intervention\" by the central government in an attempt
\nto cancel the gubernatorial appointment of his client.<\/p>\n
Eddy said there were no legal reasons to suspend the swearing-
\nin of Alzier, because the election had complied with prevailing
\nlaws and procedures at the legislative council.<\/p>\n
The council stood behind its decision to vote for Alzier and
\nwrote to the central government on Jan. 29, demanding that the
\ngovernor-elect be installed soon.<\/p>\n
It argued that the letter of good conduct, submitted by the
\nLampung police on behalf of Alzier before his election, asserted
\nthat he was legally clean and had never been jailed.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Hari said that Tursandi, the current head of
\nresearch and development at the minister's office, must
\n\"coordinate\" with the minister in carrying out his job as acting
\ngovernor.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minister-considers-ordering-revote-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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