Protests mar Council meeting<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The swearing-in ceremony of the Jakarta City Council speaker and
\ntwo deputies on Monday was marked by a wave of protests alleging
\nmoney politics had tarnished the Sept. 17 election for the post.<\/p>\n
About 500 protesters from the Committee Against Money Politics
\ndemanded the swearing-in be suspended until allegations of
\nbribery and money politics were disproven.<\/p>\n
\"We urge the authorities to send those guilty of bribing
\ncouncillors in the election to jail,\" protest coordinator Achmad
\nNur said.<\/p>\n
Councillor Ade Surapriatna of the Golkar Party faction was
\ninstalled as the council speaker on Monday with Achmad Heryawan
\nof the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction and Ilal Ferhard of
\nthe Democratic Party faction as his deputies.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was presided over by Jakarta High Court chairman
\nBen Suhendarsyah. The ceremony ran smoothly under tight security
\nprovided by members of the Central Jakarta Police and City Public
\nOrder Agency.<\/p>\n
Nur said recent media reports showed allegations of money
\npolitics in the election had substance. Two councillors from the
\nDemocratic Party faction have reportedly returned money they
\nreceived during the election.<\/p>\n
Heryawan lost to Ade in the election although the PKS, which
\nhas 18 seats in the council, won support from the Democratic
\nParty, which has 16 seats. The Democrats have admitted some of
\ntheir councillors had \"betrayed\" the coalition by casting their
\nvotes for Ade instead of Heryawan.<\/p>\n
Another group of protesters from the Greater Jakarta Student
\nExecutive Body (BEM) suspected there had been bribery in the
\nelection.<\/p>\n
\"We have learned from graft cases involving councillors in
\nother provinces nationwide that such corrupt practices are
\ncommon,\" protest coordinator Suma said.<\/p>\n
The students asked several councillors to sign a written
\nagreement they would stay away from money politics; defend the
\npoor from evictions and help create more jobs during their five-
\nyear terms.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Ade denied allegations he had been involved in
\nmoney politics. \"There has been no money politics. Such
\nallegations are slanderous. Prove it,\" he said after the
\nceremony.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/protests-mar-council-meeting-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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