Bandung gets new mayor

BANDUNG: Bandung City's legislative council elected on Tuesday bureaucrat Dada Rosada as the new mayor of Bandung, West Java, for a five-year term.

Paired with Jusep Purwasuganda from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), he garnered 26 of the 45 votes needed to defeat his rival candidates, including the incumbent Aa Tarmana.

The pairing of Tarmana and Herman Djuaeni from the United Development Party (PPP) got only 16 votes, while the remaining three votes went to the pairing of businessman Sugih Wiramikarta and artist Iwan Abdurrahman.

Councillors said it was the first democratic election of a Bandung mayor under regional autonomy.

The victory of Dada and his running mate had been predicted a long time ago.

The elected mayor was backed by PDI Perjuangan, the Golkar Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

The election ran smoothly despite protests by supporters of Dada and Tarmana. Bandung Police deployed around 7,800 personnel to secure and guard the event.

Council speaker Isa Subagja said local people were given until Sept. 12, 2003 to file objections against the election of Dada.

Allegations of money politics in the election should be presented with proof in the form of a letter from councillors who may have taken bribes for votes, Isa added. --JP