Bogor residents flock council over speaker's ego

BOGOR (JP): Some 150 people from 42 organizations here arrived at the local council on Friday to express their anger at the council speaker's failure to put his signature on the credentials of the five nominees for the next mayor of Bogor.

The refusal of speaker Eman Akman to sign the documents, a requirement to seek approval from the central government in Jakarta, has postponed the mayoral election, which was originally scheduled for Feb. 15.

"In our opinion, Eman's purpose is to hide his own personal interest, as he was once also a candidate but he did not get the approval of the people," said Farid Poniman, chairman of the supervisory board of the Pemuda Panca Marga youth organization, one of the visiting groups.

The five candidates nominated to replace Mayor Eddy Gunardi, who's term ends on March 6, have been endorsed by 25 of the 27 local councilors to compete in the election.

The nominees for the 1999-2004 term are Chaeruddin A. Nawawi, Endang Kurnia, Syafei Bratasenjaya, Iswara Natanegara and Usman Zakaria.

The procedure states that the credentials of the candidates must first be seen by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Jakarta before being put to the vote of members of the local council.

Council speaker Eman claimed that three of the candidates had not fulfilled administrative prerequisites, and that this was why he refused to sign the documents.

As a result, the election of the new mayor would be postponed possibly until after the June general election.

According to Farid, the delay would have a negative impact on Bogor as it would have no mayor for several months.

"Anyone who is appointed to fill the vacant position will not be effective because he or she won't receive the support of the local people here, who want reform," he said.

Farin said that Eman's attitude is blatantly opposed to the spirit of reform.

"He should have given priority to the people's aspirations and interests before administrative procedure," he said.

"The agenda for reform has to continue, and so does the agenda for the local authority. As we must avoid disorder and anarchy desired by groups with interests to tarnish Bogor's public image," Farin said.

After a lengthy and intense debate with other council officials, Eman eventually signed the credentials of the candidates for mayor. (24/ivy)