Betawi support Fauzi Bowo as governor

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Members of the Betawi People's Forum (Forkabi) announced on Thursday they would support City Secretary Fauzi Bowo in the upcoming gubernatorial election, at the same time voicing their opposition to the reelection of Governor Sutiyoso.

"We are nominating a Betawi (native Jakartan) who has the capability and knowledge to become the next governor," Forkabi chairman Husin Sani said in reference to Fauzi, a German-trained engineer.

Fauzi reportedly has said that he is willing to be nominated for governor.

Speaking at a meeting with the City Council, Husin, who is a former councillor from the Golkar Party, claimed the Betawi people had been "unfairly treated" during the Old and New Order regimes, because no one from their community had served as governor.

Forkabi, which is part of the Betawi Collective Body, also said it supported Djailani for deputy governor.

However, the forum originally offered to back State Intelligence Body chairman Lt. Gen. (ret) A.M. Hendropriyono for the position.

Husin claimed he had met with Hendropriyono but the latter, who is now a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), declined the offer.

Council chairman Edy Waluyo of the Military/Police faction expressed his openness to the idea of a Betawi governor.

"If we have candidates who are equally strong, I agree then that a Betawi person should be the next governor," he said.

So far, only Sutiyoso has explicitly agreed to contest the election, scheduled for October. This despite the criticism of his administration for its handling of the recent floods and their aftermath.

The next governor will be elected by the 85 city councillors, of which 30 come from the PDI Perjuangan faction. The United Development Party and the National Mandate Party factions, which have 13 councillors each, also will play an important role in the election.