Protesters decry council, show support for mayor<\/p>\n
Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya<\/p>\n
Some 300 people rallied in front of the Surabaya legislative
\ncouncil on Monday, claiming its decision to dismiss the city's
\nmayor last week was illegal.<\/p>\n
The protesters, calling themselves the National Generation
\nForum, urged the council to lift its motion against Surabaya
\nmayor Bambang Dwi Hartono, otherwise it would have to be
\ndissolved.<\/p>\n
\"We appeal to Basuki to annul the decision, as it is against
\nthe public's aspirations,\" said Amari, the field coordinator for
\nthe forum. He was referring to the council's speaker M. Basuki.<\/p>\n
Protesters wanting to seek out Basuki were unable to get into
\nthe council building. A security cordon of policemen blocked
\ntheir way but no clashes were reported.<\/p>\n
The council's plenary meeting last week decided to dismiss
\nBambang although he took over the post as mayor from Sunarto
\nSumoprawiro just a month ago.<\/p>\n
The councillors took the measure after Bambang failed to
\nattend the session held to hear his response to their demand for
\na review of his budget accountability speech on June 13.<\/p>\n
However protesters argued on Monday that the council's decree
\nNo. 2\/2002 dismissing the Surabaya mayor was illegal.<\/p>\n
They said the 2001 city budget, for which Bambang was held
\naccountable, was drawn up by his predecessor, Sunarto.<\/p>\n
Councillors dismissed Sunarto on June 10 because of his
\nfragile health condition. Bambang who was the deputy mayor took
\nover the post but had to deliver Sunarto's accountability speech
\nthree days later.<\/p>\n
The mayor hails from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan), as was council speaker Basuki.<\/p>\n
But PDI Perjuangan has discharged Basuki as the head of the
\nparty's Surabaya office, citing moral violations. The council
\nspeaker is known to be Bambang's political rival.<\/p>\n
Amari said the forum was demanding the council's dismissal
\ninstead, claiming its members failed to take into account the
\npublic's aspirations.<\/p>\n
Constitutional law expert at Airlangga University Harjono MCL
\nagreed on allegations that the council's decision was
\nillegitimate.<\/p>\n
He said the dismissal of Bambang had little to do with his
\nresponse to the rejected budget speech, but more with his failure
\nto show up at the plenary meeting.<\/p>\n
Council deputy speaker Herman Rival said earlier that Bambang
\nwas discharged for his contempt of the legislature.<\/p>\n
Councillors who elected Bambang resented his absence, viewing
\nsuch an attitude as arrogant and disrespectful.<\/p>\n
Support behind the incumbent mayor also appeared on the
\nstreets. About 200 people carrying a 300 meter-long banner around
\nBambang's office in Surya Park, asked passersby to support the
\nmayor by signing the banner.<\/p>\n
Bambang continues to work as mayor until the council's
\ndecision gets approved by the central government.<\/p>\n
The city administration secretary Alisjahbana said Bambang's
\nstaff was working as usual. \"We have nothing to do with the
\ncouncil's motion. Our mayor is still Pak Bambang,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/protesters-decry-council-show-support-for-mayor-1447893297",
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