Ali Mazi passes public scrutiny

Ali Mazi passes public scrutiny

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Southeast Sulawesi gubernatorial election committee ignored
public objections to Ali Mazi, who won the election last week.
Ali and his electoral partner Yusran Silondae passed the three-
day public scrutiny and are expected to be sworn in as governor
and deputy governor, respectively, on Dec. 23, 2002.

The chairman of the election committee, Andrey Djufri, said
that despite public objections, the committee had not found
strong legal grounds to annul the results of the gubernatorial
election held on Nov. 21, 2002.

"The committee has decided to continue the succession process
until the installment of the elect governor and elect deputy
governor," Antara news agency quoted him as saying here on
Thursday.

Andrey, a former government prosecutor, conceded that the
committee received eight objections against the elect governor
from the public, but that they did not enclose any evidence that
could be used to annul the election results.

He said the eight letters of objection contained allegations
of bribery against Ali.

He revealed that the Kalo Sara Youth Foundation put forth two
witnesses, who made an official statement that they saw Ali
transfer two bank notes for the amounts of Rp 50 million and Rp
40 million respectively, as compensation to Golkar Party
legislator La Upe Rasyid on Oct. 27, 2002.

"We could not follow up the case because La Upe went missing
following the gubernatorial election, so that the election
committee cannot conclude that Ali is involved in money
politics," he said. He also admitted the local police were still
investigating a case of fraud that involved Ali.

Ali was also rumored to have a second wife, but according to
Andrey, such a clause was not included in the list of violations
that could annul the gubernatorial election results.

"The election results will be annulled if the police find Ali
guilty in the bribery and fraud cases," he said.

The police were involved in a clash with students and youths
who protested against Ali and Yusron, who were allegedly involved
in money politics and other crimes when the gubernatorial
election was held.

Eleven demonstrators are still being held at the police
detention house in Kendari to wait for further investigation.

Kendari Police Chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Sumaryoto, said the 11
detainees were demonstrators who opposed Ali for his alleged
involvement in money politics.

"They were arrested because they used anarchism and violence
in which an antiriot police personnel was seriously injured," he
said, adding he has received many telephone calls asking him to
release the detainees.

Outgoing governor La Ode Kaimoeddin said Adel Berty, who was
defeated in the gubernatorial election, had to abandon his post
as Kolaka regent for his participation in the gubernatorial
elections.

"The Home Minister has delivered a letter, allowing Adel to
run his candidacy to the election with the condition he is
unseated from his position as Kolaka regent," he said.

Ali won a major victory in the election while Adel gained only
six votes.