Rumors on Puteh's dismissal abound<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Rumors have been making the rounds in Aceh that Governor Abdullah
\nPuteh will be dismissed for his failure to control the war-torn
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Antara news agency reported on Saturday that the rumored
\ndismissal had become a hot topic of conversation among locals.<\/p>\n
Many Acehnese seem to feel that the governor should be
\ndismissed for his failure to halt corruption in the
\nadministration, though other residents feel Puteh should be
\nallowed to serve out his term.<\/p>\n
Critics have also slammed the governor for not doing more to
\nensure the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities
\nAgreement, which was signed by the Indonesian government and the
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM) to end the 26-year conflict in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Puteh was sworn in as governor in December 2000 and his term
\nis due to end in December 2005.<\/p>\n
Nasir Djamil, a member of the provincial legislative council,
\nsaid that although Puteh was elected by the provincial
\nlegislature, the central government had the authority to dismiss
\nhim if he was considered unable to govern.<\/p>\n
"Aside from the rumors, the President (Megawati Soekarnoputri)
\nhas the authority to dismiss the governor before his term in
\noffice ends. The government must have strong reasons (to dismiss
\nPuteh), like strong indications of rampant corruption in the
\nprovince," he said.<\/p>\n
Nasir said that Puteh had the support of a number of
\ncouncillors in the provincial legislature, but had failed to win
\nbacking from Acehnese figures both inside and outside of the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
"The Acehnese have seen that the administration has been
\nmismanaged," he said.<\/p>\n
Zaini Z. Alwy, chairman of Commission D in the provincial
\nlegislature, lashed out at those spreading the rumors.<\/p>\n
According to Alwy, who is close to Puteh, the governor could
\nnot be blamed for the conflict in the province because all sides
\nhad to be responsible for implementing the peace agreement.<\/p>\n
"I am not sure that the Aceh conflict will end just because
\nthe governor is dismissed," he said.<\/p>\n
Alwy also called on the Supreme Audit Agency to audit the
\nadministration to prove whether the allegations of corruption
\nwere true.<\/p>\n
Puteh, during a visit to Padang, the capital of West Sumatra,
\nsaid the central government should heed the wishes of the
\nprovincial legislative council, which elected him to lead the
\nprovince until 2005.<\/p>\n
"There is no problem if the President dismisses me but it
\nshould be done in accordance with the law. The central government
\nshould listen to the provincial legislature, which elected me to
\ngovern the province," he said.<\/p>\n
According to the 1999 regional autonomy law, governors
\nrepresent the central government in the regions. Megawati has the
\npower to dismiss governors because they were sworn in with the
\nPresident's approval.<\/p>\n
The provincial administration under Puteh has also come under
\nfire, as Puteh has allegedly failed to combat corruption and to
\nmake political and economic improvements over the last two years.<\/p>\n
Under its special autonomy status, Aceh has generated income
\namounting to 80 percent of the national revenue from the
\nexploration of natural resources in the province. This year, the
\nprovince is expected to make more than Rp 3 trillion from the
\nexploration of natural resources.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rumors-on-putehs-dismissal-abound-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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