N. Sumatra gubernatorial candidates to present views<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>\n
The North Sumatra provincial legislative council has picked three
\ncandidates to contend the gubernatorial election scheduled for
\nMay 15.<\/p>\n
Of 40 gubernatorial candidates and 33 deputy gubernatorial
\ncandidates, the provincial legislature in its plenary meeting
\nhere selected on Monday incumbent governor T. Rizal Nurdin, chief
\nof the government prosecutor's high office Chaeruman Harahap and
\nAmrun Daulay of the Ministry of Social Affairs as gubernatorial
\ncandidates.<\/p>\n
Rizal, with his running mate Rudolf Pardede, was nominated by
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nfaction, Chaeruman and his running mate Serta Ginting were
\nnominated by the Golkar Party faction, and Amrun and his running
\nmate Baskami Ginting were nominated by the Indonesian Mandate
\nParty (PAN) faction.<\/p>\n
The United Development Party (PPP) and coalition factions with
\neight seats in the provincial legislature did not nominate any
\ncandidates, and neither did the Military\/Police faction for
\nreasons of neutrality.<\/p>\n
\"We have decided not to nominate any candidates, but this does
\nnot mean that we have no one in mind,\" secretary of the PPP
\nfaction Ali Jabbar Napitupulu said after the plenary session,
\nwhich continued until late evening on Monday.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the provincial legislative council, Ahmad
\nAzhari, said the three gubernatorial candidates would be asked to
\npresent their respective vision, mission and programs to
\ncouncillors on Wednesday. Based on their presentations, the
\ncouncillors are expected to determine which candidate should lead
\nthe province for the 2003-2008 period.<\/p>\n
According to the 1999 regional autonomy law, the names of the
\ngubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates will be sent to
\nthe home minister for approval before the election is held.<\/p>\n
The new governor will be elected by the provincial legislative
\ncouncil, but the final decision rests with President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, who will either approve or reject the governor
\nelect.<\/p>\n
For example, the President decided not to swear in Alzier
\nThabranie, governor elect of Lampung, because of his alleged
\ninvolvement in several corruption cases there in the past.<\/p>\n
Rizal is favored to win the upcoming gubernatorial election
\nfor his second term of office, as he has received the President's
\nblessing.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who also chairs PDI Perjuangan -- the party occupies
\n30 seats at the provincial legislature -- has instructed the PDI
\nPerjuangan faction to provide political support for Rizal. Rizal
\nis considered to have succeeded in maintaining security and order
\nin the province over the last five years.<\/p>\n
The Military\/Police and other minor factions were also
\nexpected to support Rizal.<\/p>\n
The President, according to close aides, prefers that the
\nmilitary, rather than a civilian, heads those provinces prone to
\nsecurity disturbances, in anticipation of the 2004 general
\nelections.<\/p>\n
She has also given her blessing to Tayo Tarmadi, former chief
\nof the Siliwangi Military Command, to contend the West Java
\ngubernatorial election, as well as Mardiyanto, former chief of
\nthe Diponegoro Military Command, to govern Central Java for a
\nsecond term.<\/p>",
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