'Next Jakarta governor should not be from military'<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Post<\/p>\n
As a gubernatorial election nears in Jakarta, non-governmental
\norganizations (NGO) rejected on Sunday the possibility of a
\ngovernor with a military background being selected, saying this
\nwould betray the reform agenda.<\/p>\n
The NGOs, including the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), the
\ncity chapter of the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) and
\nthe newly established Gubernatorial Election Watch Committee
\n(KP2G) pointed out that one of the main demands of the reform
\nmovement was the abolition of the military (TNI)\/police's dual
\nrole, especially their political functions.<\/p>\n
\"The gubernatorial candidates who have military backgrounds
\nalso have records of human rights violations,\" the LBH's urban
\ndivision head, Tubagus Haryo Karbyanto, said in a public
\ndiscussion which was organized by the KP2G on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The names of several candidates, most of whom have military
\nbackgrounds, have reportedly been put forward for the
\ngubernatorial election, which will be held in October.<\/p>\n
The candidates, including State Intelligence Agency (BIN)
\nchief Lt. Gen. (ret) A.M. Hendropriyono, former Udayana Military
\nCommander Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri and the current Jakarta Military
\nCommander Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo.<\/p>\n
City Governor Sutiyoso, who is also a former Jakarta military
\ncommander, has reportedly indicated that he would run for a
\nsecond five-year term.<\/p>\n
Only a few civilian names have been proposed as candidates for
\nthe governorship, including that of the current Jakarta Secretary
\nFauzi Bowo, who was also a former treasurer of the city chapter
\nof the Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
Except for Sutiyoso and Bibit, Hendropriyono, Adam and Fauzi
\nare all Betawi (native Jakarta) people.<\/p>\n
Tubagus said that Hendropriyono, who is reportedly supported
\nby the council's largest faction, the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), was involved in human rights
\nviolations in Talangsari, Lampung, in 1989, when his soldiers
\nkilled some 30 people in a clash with a militant group in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
He alleged that Adam Damiri, who was also the former Jakarta
\nMilitary Garrison chief of staff, was responsible for human right
\nviolations in East Timor three years ago.<\/p>\n
Walhi's executive director Ahmad Syafruddin supported Tubagus'
\nstatement, adding the governorship should not be handed to the
\nformer ruling Golkar Party due to its contribution to the
\ndestruction caused by the past regime.<\/p>\n
\"Besides the military, Golkar people should also not be
\nelected to the governorship,\" Syafruddin said.<\/p>\n
KP2G chairman Junaidi took the view that the gubernatorial
\nelection would be conducted undemocratically with only a limited
\nnumber of candidates, mainly from the military.<\/p>\n
\"As in the past, the candidates are usually imposed from \"the
\ntop\" and then approved by the council,\" Junaidi said.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan chairwoman and the country's President,
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, have reportedly given their blessings to
\nHendropriyono, who was registered as a party member last year,
\nwhile TNI headquarters is rumored to be backing Adam Damiri.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta governor will be elected by the 85 members of the
\nCity Council. The PDI Perjuangan has 31 seats on the council
\nwhile the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Mandate
\nParty (PAN) have 13 seats each.<\/p>\n
The TNI has nine seats while Golkar is ranked fifth on the
\ncouncil with eight seats.<\/p>\n
During Sunday's discussion, the NGOs also demanded that the
\ngovernor should be directly elected in the future, instead of
\nbeing elected by the council.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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