PDI-P member asks Sutiyoso to step down<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A councillor on Monday asked Governor Sutiyoso
\nto take a leave from office as he was named a suspect in the 1996
\nforcible takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
Pantas Nainggolan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction said the central government
\nshould suspend the governor pending further investigation of the
\ncase.<\/p>\n
\"From a legal point of view, Sutiyoso should temporarily step
\ndown as his current position will apparently hamper investigation
\nof the case,\" Pantas told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"The case is similar to the one of Gen. (ret) Wiranto, who was
\nsuspended following the investigation of East Timor abuse.<\/p>\n
\"So the President (Abdurrahman Wahid) should do the same to
\nSutiyoso,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Pantas, who is also secretary of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction at City Council, said
\nthe upcoming implementation of the Regional Autonomy Law in
\nJanuary might give more power to City Council to dismiss the
\ngovernor over an alleged crime.<\/p>\n
\"If the court declares him guilty, we will elect a new
\ngovernor for the capital,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Deputy council speaker Djafar Badjeber of the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) faction, however, took a cautious stance
\non the matter, saying he would first study the case to determine
\nwhether Sutiyoso's status as a suspect might have an impact on
\nhis position or not.<\/p>\n
\"I cannot comment on Sutiyoso's status as we have to study the
\ncase first,\" Djafar said.<\/p>\n
Councillor Amarullah Asbah of the Golkar Party faction also
\nrefused to comment, saying that his faction had yet to discuss
\nthe matter.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, who was the Jakarta Military commander when the 1996
\ntragedy occurred, has been named a suspect in the incident, along
\nwith former Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Hamami Nata and seven
\nother officials.<\/p>\n
The attack on PDI headquarters triggered mass unrest in
\nCentral Jakarta, leaving at least five people killed and 23
\nothers reported still missing.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul
\nKahfi said that usually if the governor was engaged in a lawsuit
\nand could not perform his daily duties, the governor had the
\nauthority to appoint an acting governor.<\/p>\n
He said he had repeatedly been appointed the caretaker
\nposition when Sutiyoso was on an official overseas trip.<\/p>\n
\"However, if the governor cannot perform his duties for an
\nindefinite period of time, then it is the decision of the
\nMinistry of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy whether to elect a
\nnew governor,\" he added. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdi-p-member-asks-sutiyoso-to-step-down-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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