Betawi leaders eye governor's chair

JAKARTA (JP): Native Jakartans reiterated on Saturday their plan to nominate a person of Betawi descent to become the next Jakarta governor in the 2002 elections.

"It's time for a Betawi to be governor of their hometown," said noted Betawi figure Abdul Syukur, who is also the head of the Betawi Consultative Body.

Speaking during a meeting of Betawi leaders, Syukur said Betawi people should be given the trust to contribute to the development of the capital.

"We never have had the opportunity to participate, while our involvement and existence is often neglected," said Syukur.

"It is our challenge to show them that a Betawi person can be the governor of their own hometown," said another noted Betawi leader, Syafi'i al Hadzami.

He also called on all native Jakartans to learn from the past and use these lessons to prepare for the future.

The Betawi Consultative Body estimates there are about four million people of Betawi descent residing in Jakarta, or about 30 percent of the capital's total number of residents.

The origins of the Betawi are unclear. The most accepted theory is that the group emerged about 400 years ago as a mixture of several ethnic groups who dwelled in Batavia, which was what the Dutch colonial rulers called Jakarta.

Another noted figure, Ali Sadikin, also supported the emergence of a Betawi as Jakarta governor.

"It is their right to nominate their best leader to run the city administration," said the man who was Jakarta governor from 1967 to 1977.

Syukur said that since the first Jakarta governor, Suwiryo in 1945, none of the city's subsequent governors have been of Betawi origin.

The current governor and former Jakarta Military commander, Sutiyoso, replaced Surjadi Soedirja in 1997, defeating two other nominees -- Tb.M. Rais and Achmadi.

Sutiyoso, the 11th governor of the capital, is scheduled to remain in office until his term ends in 2002.

With the full implementation of regional autonomy next year, Syukur said Betawi people should use the opportunity to nominate their best leader as the next governor.

"We must combine our aspirations and prepare a strategy to benefit from this opportunity," he said. (07)