C. Kalimantan politicians warm up for gubernatorial poll

JAKARTA (JP): Local social and political organizations in Central Kalimantan are pushing for two locally born leaders as their candidates for the gubernatorial election next month.

The organizations, which successfully thwarted the Central Government's choice of governor in January forcing Jakarta to call for another election, have chosen two candidates.

They are chairman of the provincial legislature, H.D. Mangkusari, and regent of Barito Selatan, H. Asmawi Agani.

The decision to present the two nominations was made at a meeting among various local organizations.

Mangkusari was chosen for his seniority while Asmawi got support for his sound achievements in lifting his regency from the lowest position to fourth position in the province in terms of development progress and revenue.

These two candidates could face strong competition from Z.A. Maulani, a retired Army major general who was popular in the region when he served as the chief of the Tanjungpura Military Command.

The Armed Forces, which has a faction in the local legislature, has also proposed its own candidates, including Col. Sariyo and Col. R.H. Hartomo.

Hartomo, currently the mayor of Surakarta (Solo) in Central Java, has a close relationship with the elite circle.

The local legislature must select five candidates, but it needs the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs before carrying out the election, slated for June 22.

The President has the last say in naming the governor, although he has traditionally followed the result of the election.

Central Kalimantan was the scene of a massive revolt in January when politicians of Golkar, the ruling political faction, protested at the Central Government's choice for governor, Karna Suwanda, who hailed from West Java, in preference to a locally born candidate. The two received the same number of votes in the election.

Karna was deputy governor of West Java when Moch. Yogie S.M., currently the minister of home affairs, served as governor. Critics of the minister accused him of favoritism when he chose Karna as the Central Kalimantan governor.

Their protests forced the government to call for another election and to appoint Warsito Rasman, the director general of public administration and regional autonomy, as caretaker governor.

The governor post in Central Kalimantan has been filled by figures from outside the province for the last 10 years, fueling resentment that reached its peak with the revolt in January. (prs)