Bekasi regent asked to go

JAKARTA (JP): Fifty-seven members of the Karawang-Bekasi Islamic Students Union (HMI) packed the local council chamber Wednesday, demanding Bekasi regent Mochammad Djamhari resign.

The students also asked the council to reject Djamhari's nomination to be a candidate in November's election for the next two-year term as regent.

According to the union's chairman, Nurul Sumarheni, Djamhari is thought to be guilty of numerous corruption, collusion and nepotism violations during his tenure, as reported in many media.

"We need a clean figure," Nurul said as quoted by Antara.

In a response to the students' demand, the local council speaker, Wikanda Darmawijaya, said that Djamhari's tenure would last until Nov. 9 and he has submitted a letter to the council saying that he would not register his name for the upcoming Bekasi regent election.

Djamhari, who arrived two hours after the meeting between the councilors and protesters, was deserted by the students as soon as he tried to defend himself.

"We've been waiting for him for too long. We've given all our demands to the council members so there's no use talking with him," said one of the students. (bsr)