Minister to appoint acting Sampang regent<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The central government has decided to end the
\nongoing rift over the newly elected regent of Sampang in Madura
\nisland off East Java and appoint a caretaker while mediation
\nactivities are underway.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Lt. Gen. (ret)
\nSurjadi Soedirdja said on Tuesday he would appoint an acting
\nregent for Sampang regency if the two warring groups could not
\nsettle their problem themselves.<\/p>\n
\"I will install an acting regent for Sampang. I'm now waiting
\nfor a report on the dispute from the East Java governor (Imam
\nUtomo),\" Surjadi told reporters on the sidelines of a hearing at
\nthe House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
He said he had suggested that the two groups consider two
\nalternative solutions to the problem surrounding the reelection
\nof regent Fadhilah Budiono.<\/p>\n
He proposed that Fadhilah should first be installed before the
\nlegal process into the ongoing rift got underway, while secondly,
\nthe elected regent should be investigated before being installed.<\/p>\n
\"But it seems that the two warring groups could not accept the
\nalternatives,\" Surjadi, a former Jakarta governor, said.<\/p>\n
The minister considered the reelection of Fadhilah valid
\nalthough one of the 23 Sampang councilors who had voted for the
\npolice officer resigned before the election was conducted in
\nJuly.<\/p>\n
\"The councilor has resigned but his successor has yet to be
\ninducted. So, he (the resigned councilor) still has the right to
\nvote,\" he said, without mentioning the name of the resigned
\ncouncilor.<\/p>\n
Mobs set the Sampang Council building on fire last Wednesday
\nto protest the reelection of Fadhilah, who is a police colonel.<\/p>\n
Supported by the United Development Party (PPP) and the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI)\/National Police factions, Fadhilah
\nsecured 23 votes of a total 45 councilors to be reelected
\nSampang regent for a second consecutive term. He defeated the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB) candidate by just one ballot.<\/p>\n
PKB is the largest faction in the local council with 18 seats,
\nwhile PPP is the second with 12 seats.<\/p>\n
Besides questioning the validity of Fadhilah's vote, PKB also
\naccused the elected regent of having been involved in a swindle
\nover rice aid for Madurese refugees, who were the victims of
\nriots in West Kalimantan in 1998. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minister-to-appoint-acting-sampang-regent-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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