Banten applies democracy in gubernatorial poll

Banten applies democracy in gubernatorial poll

The Jakarta Post, Serang

The Banten gubernatorial election elected Djoko Munandar as
governor of the new province and Atut Chosiah as deputy governor
on Monday. However, many accused it of failing to demonstrate the
democratic process to local people.

The election was held by all 69 members of the provincial
legislative council, who were tightly escorted by around 500
security personnel from the local police and military in the
presence of civilian defense guards and demonstrating students.

The problem was not that Djoko and his deputy won a majority
of the votes but that local authorities, including the
legislature, failed to perform a transparent, fair and popular
election as had been expected by the majority of local people.

Djoko received 37 votes while other candidates, Ace Suhaidi
Madsupi and Herman Heruman got 23 and five votes respectively.

Under such closed conditions and tight security, defeated
candidates accepted their losses in accordance with the
election's results and pledged to help the elected governor to
develop democracy in the province, which was officially formed on
Oct. 17, 2000.

"It is normal in democracy. There must be winners and losers,"
said Ace after the election.

Djoko said he would be consistent with the vision he recently
presented before the legislature that his main program in the
2001 to 2006 period would be to give more attention to the
development of education, poverty alleviation and reducing the
numbers of unemployed.

"I will do my best to accompany the elected governor to make
his development program a success," said Atut.

According to a recent survey conducted by Tirta Yasa
University in Cilegon, illiteracy, high unemployment and low life
expectancy were still fundamental problems facing many remote
areas in the province such as the regencies of Lebak, Serang,
Tangerang and Pandeglang.

The election results appeared strange and controversial as Ace
who was nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan), the major faction in the legislature, was
defeated while the winners came from the minority United
Development Party (PPP) faction.

More than 500 members, clad in black uniforms, of the Banten
Self-Defense Militia had been guarding the election since the
legislature had announced the three candidates to contend the
gubernatorial election, while an alliance of students alleged the
presence of money politics.

Learning from other province's bad experiences, the students
demanded the legislature cancel the gubernatorial election and
let local people directly elect their own governor.

It was not clear who the student demonstrators were
complaining about but they claimed that a majority of
councillors, who were transferred from the West Java legislature
following the province's formation, were not aware of local
people's political aspirations.

"The gubernatorial election will not bring an improvement to
local social welfare as money politics has played a dominant role
throughout the process," said one student.

Iwan Rosadi, secretary of the PDI Perjuangan faction at the
legislature, said his faction would carry out an investigation
into the allegation of money politics.

"The results of the gubernatorial election must be annulled by
the legislature if the candidates are found to have been involved
in money politics. We do not tolerate any vote rigging and any
use of political money," he said.

Djoko's victory in the gubernatorial election has yet to be
definitive as President Megawati Soekarnoputri has yet to give
her last say on the matter.

Similar to this case, the President has yet to recognize the
results of the gubernatorial election in Gorontalo and North
Maluku because the winners were allegedly involved in money
politics.

Both businessman Fadel Muhammad who won the gubernatorial
election in Gorontalo last August and Abdul Gafur who won the
governorship in North Maluku last September have yet to be sworn
in by the home affairs minister because the President has yet to
authenticate their victory in the election.