Provincial legislative body dismisses Aceh governor<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Ramli Ridwan, a senior staff member at
\nthe Ministry of Home Affairs, has been named the acting governor
\nof Aceh in place of Syamsuddin Mahmud, who went out following a
\nvote of no confidence from the provincial legislature recently.<\/p>\n
A presidential decree dated June 7 approved Syamsuddin's
\nsubstitution and the hand-over ceremony of the gubernatorial post
\nhas been set for June 21. The ousted governor will have a new
\npost in Jakarta as deputy chairman of the National Development
\nPlanning Board (Bappenas).<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the provincial administration Teuku Pribadi said
\nTuesday that 29 out of 49 members of the local legislative
\ncouncil petitioned Syamsuddin's dismissal on April 29 for being
\ntoo slow in handling Aceh's problems. The vote of no confidence
\nwas given after the governor's annual report before the
\nlegislators.<\/p>\n
Syamsuddin, a scholar from the local Syah Kuala state
\nuniversity, took office in 1993 to replace Ibrahim Hasan who was
\nthen named a minister under the government of then president
\nSoeharto. Syamsuddin won another five-year term in 1998.<\/p>\n
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung regretted on
\nFriday the move that toppled Syamsudin.<\/p>\n
"There has been misinterpretation of the law. A governor is
\nobliged to present his or her annual report, but it should not be
\nconsidered an accountability report," Akbar said.<\/p>\n
He said he could understand the dismissal if it had a strong
\nlegal basis and was in line with people's aspirations.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the House's Commission II for domestic and legal
\naffairs Amin Aryoso supported Akbar's view, saying the ousting of
\nSyamsuddin would create legal uncertainty of a governor's duties.<\/p>\n
"If this happens, the legislative council could sack a
\ngovernor every year," Amin said.<\/p>\n
Syamsuddin took his dismissal easily and said he would enjoy
\nwhatever post was given to him.<\/p>\n
"If they want me to resign, fine. I have no complaint," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Students and activists, however, protested Ramli's appointment
\nas caretaker, labeling him a close confidant of former governor
\nIbrahim and part of the New Order.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of students from various universities rallied at the
\nprovincial administrative building on Friday morning.<\/p>\n
"The councilors only think about how much salary they could
\nearn and never think about the people. They only create cheap
\npolitical maneuvers. There are lots of Acehnese who deserve the
\ngubernatorial post," one of the students, Zukhri M.S. Adnan,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Violence, meanwhile, also continued to rock the province, as
\ntwo people were killed and another man suffered burn injuries in
\na mortar blast in Babah Buloh village in North Aceh on Thursday.<\/p>\n
North Aceh Police chief Lt. Col. Syafei Aksal said Razali, 45,
\ndied on the scene while Husni, 16, died later in the Lhokseumawe
\nGeneral Hospital. Ramli Abdullah, 36, survived the blast.<\/p>\n
The military also arrested an armed Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
\nrebel leader and three of his followers in Jeungki village at
\nPeureulak district, East Aceh.<\/p>\n
"The four men were arrested on Tuesday at a house in
\nPeureulak," East Aceh Military chief Lt. Col. K. Irawan said on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
The GAM field commander is identified as Syahrul Idris, 35,
\nand his three followers are Badaruddin, 25, Syaiful, 20, and
\nZaini, 40. (50\/edt\/jun)<\/p>",
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