C. Java on red alert ahead of balloting

C. Java on red alert ahead of balloting

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang

The Central Java Police declared, on Wednesday, the province to
be on a state of red alert, to ensure that security and order
would be maintained during the gubernatorial election on
Thursday.

Provincial police chief Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi said security
troops were anticipating possible disturbances in the provincial
capital of Semarang and the sultanate town of Surakarta.

"There is a possibility of rioting in Semarang if Mardijo
loses as the city is his stronghold. The same thing could happen
in Surakarta, which is the base of support for Mardiyanto," Didi
said.

He was referring to the provincial legislature speaker and the
incumbent governor, (respectively), who have emerged as the
strongest contenders for the top post.

Surakarta has a history of mass riots, the latest flaring up
in October 1999 when PDI Perjuangan supporters ran amok,
following the defeat of Megawati in the presidential race.

Over 3,000 police and military personnel have been deployed to
maintain security during the election, at the provincial
legislature on Thursday.

Home minister Hari Sabarno sent a letter on Wednesday to the
election committee, saying that the election could go ahead as
scheduled.

Mardijo is nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) despite a veto from party chairwoman
Megawati Soekarnoputri, who prefers Mardiyanto. The latter is
nominated by the National Awakening Party (PKB).

Megawati fired Mardijo as chairman of the party's Central Java
chapter for insubordination on Monday.

Mardiyanto's bid for reelection has received a major boost
after 38 PDI Perjuangan councillors said they would comply with
Megawati's order. Their pledge came during a meeting with PDI
Perjuangan Deputy Chairman, Gunawan Wirosarojo, Secretary General
Sutjipto and Deputy Secretary General, Pramono Anung Wibowo at
Sahid Raya Hotel in Surakarta, where Mardiyanto was also present.

Only 34 councillors were present, but the four absentees had
notified the party that they would follow Megawati's order, a PDI
Perjuangan councillor, who requested anonymity, said.

He said during the meeting the party hinted that Mardiyanto
would be supported by 10 of 16 PKB councillors, to earn him the
majority vote. The Central Java legislature has 100 seats.

Sutjipto claimed that the presence of almost all of PDI
Perjuangan councillors, and all 35 chairpersons of party
branches, proved that Mardijo lacked support.

He said the party central board did not plan to take punitive
measures against the party faction in the legislature on the
grounds that they were pressured to nominate Mardijo.

"It is an open secret that the process of Mardijo's nomination
was marked by extraordinary pressure both physical and mental on
the faction members. That's why we do not recommend his
nomination," Sutjipto said.

Commenting on comments by chairman of the party's faction at
the People's Consultative Assembly, Arifin Panigoro, Sutjipto
said he had questioned the statement which came after the
decision had already been taken.

Sutjipto said Arifin hadn't turned up at party meetings for a
long time.

Mardijo said the meeting in Surakarta was a forum to
indoctrinate party councillors.

"The central board has adopted a strange policy. How could a
mother abandon her own child to take care of a wild monkey?" he
said, citing an old Malay saying.

Despite the move from Jakarta, Mardijo said he would fight to
the end, claiming that he already secured 37 votes from PDI
Perjuangan councillors.

Meanwhile, secretary of Golkar faction, Sutoyo Abadi, said all
the party's 12 councillors would vote for Slamet Kirbiantoro, who
has reportedly secured support from the 12 United Development
Party faction members and a half of the 10 councillors
representing the military and police faction.