Verdict is not final: Minister<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The decision by Kampar Regency Council to dismiss Kampar regent
\nJefri Noer and his deputy A. Zakir is not final, according to
\nMinister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno.<\/p>\n
The decision can only take effect when President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri endorses it, he said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
"The President has the sole authority to decide whether the
\ndecision is lawful. But surely, she will listen to my advice and
\nthat of the Riau governor," Hari told reporters after meeting the
\nPresident at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
Hari was commenting on Saturday's plenary meeting at the
\nKampar Regency Council, which decided to dismiss Kampar regent
\nJefri Noer and his deputy A. Zakir.<\/p>\n
Both leaders were dismissed by the council, following massive
\nteacher and student protests in the regency, which paralyzed
\nclasses for almost two weeks in Kampar, some 60 kilometers west
\nof Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau province.<\/p>\n
The massive protest came after Regent Jefri Noer ordered
\nteacher Abdul Latif Hasyim out of a meeting room. The teacher was
\ntold to leave the meeting after he questioned the regent on the
\nlow budget allocation for education in the regency.<\/p>\n
Teachers and students later accused the regent of insulting
\nthe teaching profession and staged almost two weeks of massive
\nprotests that led to the dismissal of the regent by the regency
\ncouncil.<\/p>\n
The deputy regent was also dismissed on the grounds that both
\nZakir and the regent were responsible for a crisis of confidence
\namong the people for the government of Kampar regency.<\/p>\n
The popularity of the regent has been declining over the last
\ntwo years. In 2002, he was accused of using a fake senior high
\nschool diploma to gain eligibility to take the post of regent.
\nThe regency council voted for his dismissal, but the decision was
\nannulled by the Minister of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n
Hari said that he had reported the problems in Kampar to the
\nPresident, while at the same time, the Ministry of Home Affairs
\nhas assigned an investigating team.<\/p>\n
The outcome of the investigation will be forwarded to the
\nPresident for consideration.<\/p>\n
While awaiting for the President's decision, Hari said that
\nthe regent and deputy regent should continue their duties to keep
\nthe wheels of bureaucracy running in Kampar, in order to avoid a
\npower vacuum.<\/p>\n
But, the minister ordered them not to take any strategic
\ndecisions, pending the decision of the President.<\/p>",
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