Public urged to give Governor Sjachriel a chance<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Former South Kalimantan governor M. Said said on Friday in
\nBanjarmasin that the public should give Governor M. Sjachriel
\nDarham a chance to improve his performance, instead of demanding
\nthat he step down.<\/p>\n
"If he confesses his mistakes, apologizes to the public and
\npromises not to repeat his mistakes, I think it would be wise if
\nwe gave him a chance, so it would not be necessary for him to
\nresign," Said was quoted by Antara as saying in Banjarmasin on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
Said, also a member of The Regional Autonomy Advisory Board
\n(DPOD), explained that he could understand that the public were
\nangry with the governor for his ignorance of their wishes.<\/p>\n
He, however, said it would set a bad precedence for the next
\ngovernors if the public forced Sjahriel to step down.<\/p>\n
"It would be hard for the next governor because he would be
\nforced to give up his position if he makes trivial mistakes, even
\nthough their terms of office have yet to expire," he said.<\/p>\n
An alliance of nongovernmental organizations, students
\nassociations and mass organizations demanded Sjachriel, whose
\nterm of office will end in 2005, to step down after he unveiled
\nhis accountability speech before the South Kalimantan legislative
\ncouncil recently.<\/p>\n
They also rejected the governor's accountability speech,
\nsaying the latter committed many errors over the last two years.<\/p>\n
His critics slammed the governor for his controversial policy
\non the Barito River project, coal mining and the province's
\nprotected national parks.<\/p>\n
He was much criticized for allowing coal mining to take place
\ninside a protected forest area near the provincial capital of
\nBandjarmasin.<\/p>\n
Said added the provincial legislature should be sensitive and
\nattentive to the public's wishes, because based on the rules,
\nonly they had the right to assess the governor's performance.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, an analyst who requested anonymity, said it was
\nimpossible to overthrow Sjachriel because he had gathered support
\nfrom many parties.<\/p>\n
"It will materialize if there is a mixture of political
\nconspiracy and criminal charges like corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism (KKN)," he said.<\/p>\n
Sjachriel will definitely be overthrown from his chair if the
\ncriminal charges stand, according to the political and legal
\nanalyst.<\/p>\n
"That's why law enforcers like the police and prosecutors
\nshould actively participate in the movement, otherwise it will
\nprove useless," he said.<\/p>\n
When asked about this, Governor Sjachriel only said: "In the
\nrealm of politics, there is no eternal friend or foe," he said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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