Sutiyoso renomination encounters some objections<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
City Governor Sutiyoso might announce his intention to join
\nthe next gubernatorial election in October, in effect eating his
\nown words that he would not seek reelection.<\/p>\n
But his nomination for a second five-year term has already
\nbeen opposed to by some Jakartans including those ignorant of the
\ncoming election.<\/p>\n
Tongap Siahaan, a public minivan driver serving the Kampung
\nMelayu-Senen route, said on Saturday that Sutiyoso must not be
\nreelected due to his failure in handling the massive floods that
\nhit the capital for around three weeks since Jan. 28.<\/p>\n
\"He should not run for governor. He should allow other people
\nto lead the city,\" said Tongap, whose rented house in Cawang
\narea, East Jakarta, was inundated by the floods.<\/p>\n
Tongap also criticized Sutiyoso's administration that has
\nfailed to manage the city transportation system and only created
\nmore traffic jams.<\/p>\n
Ali, a student at a private university, concurred, saying that
\nthe administration had not achieved anything during Sutiyoso's
\ntenure.<\/p>\n
\"Traffic jams, crowds of street vendors and mass brawls among
\nresidents all indicate that the governor has no leadership
\nskill,\" said Ali, a resident of Kemayoran area, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He hoped the city would be led by a younger governor with
\nbold, brilliant and, possibly controversial ideas to face the
\ncity's problems, like former Governor Ali Sadikin.<\/p>\n
He said only Ali Sadikin with all his controversial policies
\nwas still acknowledged as the \"true\" city governor until now.<\/p>\n
Ali Sadikin, who served as governor in the 1970s, was known
\nfor permitting gambling dens to operate as they were big
\ntaxpayers for the city. Ignoring critics, he said the taxes could
\nfinance the development of public facilities.<\/p>\n
Today, gambling is illegal but many gambling dens still
\noperate with the backing of certain military and police officers.<\/p>\n
Ali also set up the Kramat Tunggak prostitute rehabilitation
\ncomplex in Jakarta in the 1970s but it was closed by Sutiyoso in
\n1999 amid protests from neighboring communities.<\/p>\n
Despite the opposition, not all people were aware of the
\nOctober election. Some did not even care.<\/p>\n
\"I don't care if Sutiyoso is reelected. It's more important
\nfor people to do their jobs easily,\" said Yanto, an Ojek
\n(motorcycle taxi) driver in Tanah Abang area, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He wished the next governor -- whether from a military or
\ncivilian background -- could bring peace and create more job
\nopportunities, especially for the ordinary people.<\/p>\n
Since Ali Sadikin, all Jakarta governors have had a military
\nbackground including Sutiyoso who formerly was Jakarta Military
\nCommander.<\/p>\n
Several non-governmental organizations have proposed that the
\nnext city governor should not be from the military, fearing that
\notherwise he would betray the reform agenda and democratization
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
Four candidates -- Jakarta city secretary Fauzi Bowo, West
\nNusa Tenggara Governor Harun Alrasyid, State Intelligence Agency
\n(BIN) chief Lt. Gen. (ret) A.M. Hendropriyono and Udayana
\nMilitary Commander Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri -- were named as strong
\ncontestants in the election.<\/p>\n
Although the public and NGOs have rejected candidates with a
\nmilitary background, the election however, would be determined by
\nthe 85 members of the City Council.<\/p>\n
The deciding vote in the election would mostly come from 30
\ncouncillors of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and 13
\ncouncillors each from the United Development Party and the
\nNational Mandate Party.<\/p>\n
With the current quality of the councillors, it would be
\nunlikely that the voices of the public and NGOs would be heard.<\/p>",
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