Speech must not be confused with impeachment: Expert<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A regional administration expert told
\nlegislators and the public on Wednesday not to confuse the
\nhearing sessions for governors' annual accountability speeches
\nwith forums to impeach the regional administration heads.<\/p>\n
\"We don't expect the governors to be easily overthrown. An
\naccountability speech is a mere progress report. We expect the
\nlegislators to give their suggestions and warnings instead,\" Andi
\nMallarangeng, an expert staff member at the Office of the State
\nMinister of Regional Autonomy, said in a discussion on the City
\nCouncil's decision to reject Governor Sutiyoso's accountability
\nspeech last Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"It seems that councillors have an agenda of replacing the
\ngovernors with their own candidates,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The discussion also featured speakers, including former
\nJakarta governor Ali Sadikin, councillor Posman Siahaan of the
\nJustice and Unity Party (PKP) faction and Sutiyoso himself.<\/p>\n
The governor's annual accountability speech is regulated in
\nLaw No. 22\/1999 on regional administration. The law also
\nstipulates general criteria for councillors to impeach governors.<\/p>\n
The central government, however, has yet to issue a decree on
\nthe annual speech mechanism, which has invited heated arguments
\ndue to different interpretations of the law.<\/p>\n
Andi warned that easily dismissing a governor through the
\nannual hearing session would be a bad precedence in Indonesian
\npolitics.<\/p>\n
\"We would then have a new governor, mayor, regent or even
\npresident every year if they could be impeached at the annual
\naccountability sessions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"This will only delay development programs throughout the
\ncountry and bring more difficulties to our residents,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Sutiyoso renewed his readiness to abide by any
\ndecision made by the City Council in his accountability speech.<\/p>\n
\"I've even prepared myself for the worst scenario if city
\ncouncillors decide to reject my redrafted accountability speech
\nnext month. I will be a farmer,\" he told the participants.<\/p>\n
\"It's not a big problem for me as long as the councillors make
\nan objective and reasonable assessment on my performance,\" he
\nsaid, adding that he denied he had bribed the councillors to
\nendorse his speech.<\/p>\n
The council's majority vote to reject his accountability
\nspeech, however, does not automatically mean that Sutiyoso has to
\nsurrender his governorship.<\/p>\n
The 1999 law regulates that a governor be given a 30-day
\ndeadline to revise the rejected accountability speech. If that
\nspeech is also rejected, the councillors can then recommend that
\nthe central government find a replacement.<\/p>\n
Andi said the false interpretation of the essence of a
\ngovernor's accountability speech had affected the governors'
\nperformances, as well as those of mayors and regents.<\/p>\n
\"The governors, regents, mayors and all of their subordinates
\ncan't provide normal public services when they have to
\nconcentrate on speeches to appease councillors. Every time they
\nwake up in the morning, they only think about how to win the
\nlegislators' approval,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Councillor Posman said he disagreed with a circular sent by
\nState Minister of Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid, which
\nemphasized that the accountability speech session was not a forum
\nto impeach any heads of regional administrations.<\/p>\n
\"If any of the councillors have sufficient evidence to accuse
\nand impeach the governor, why not?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
\"I found that Sutiyoso hadn't put all of his efforts into
\nrestoring order in the city. However, I cannot just put all the
\nblame on him. We must also consider the present conditions,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Demand<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Ali Sadikin demanded that the central government
\nimmediately issue a decree on the speech mechanism.<\/p>\n
\"It's important to give guidelines to all heads of regional
\nadministrations in order for them to perform their duties.
\nOtherwise, we'll return back to the 1950s when cabinets could be
\noverthrown at any time,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I also wonder who will control the councillors. If they can
\nimpeach a governor, why can't a governor dismiss them in return?\"
\nhe asked.<\/p>\n
All speakers in the discussion agreed to put the provincial
\npolice under the governor's control.<\/p>\n
\"This way, residents can demand Sutiyoso's responsibility for
\nsecurity affairs. Currently, Sutiyoso doesn't have any control
\nover the city police,\" Ali said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Andi said that his office had formulated a proposal
\nto be made to President Abdurrahman Wahid on measures to place
\nthe provincial police under the governors.<\/p>\n
Earlier last week, all 26 Indonesian governors made a similar
\nrecommendation to the central government to place provincial
\npolice under the provinces' authority.<\/p>\n
\"This (new position) will enable governors to launch public
\norder operations easier,\" Sutiyoso said. (nvn)<\/p>",
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