Capital should lead by example

Capital should lead by example

Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The reform movement, marked by the fall of Soeharto in May 1998,
also gave birth to regional autonomy. This gives regional
government authority in governing its own region.

The idea is warmly welcomed by the regions for promoting the
spirit of democracy and testing their own potential to manage
themselves.

Despite being the country's center for economic and government
activity, Jakarta is considered, ironically, to have failed in
educating the nation on the practice of democracy.

As in other provinces, the governor of Jakarta is elected by
the local council. But while village chiefs are elected directly
by the people, subdistrict chiefs here are appointed by the
governor. In other provinces regents have the authority to rule
their region, but in Jakarta, its regent and five mayors are
under the control of the governor.

Jakarta is not as democratic as other provinces, thanks to
Law No.34/1999 on Jakarta as the special capital administration,
which has given extraordinary power to the governor.

The law is currently being revised by the House of
Representatives. One of the main points agreed is a direct
gubernatorial election to promote democratic governance in
Jakarta.

In a recent discussion of the law, activist Azas Tigor
Nainggolan, from the Jakarta Social Institute (ISJ), said that
Jakarta should have set an example in the practice of democracy
for its reputation as the nation's leader in critical thinking.

He said the city administration's failure to directly elect
its leaders would downgrade the city's image, as that did not
promote democratic principles.

A direct gubernatorial election for Jakarta is essential, he
said.

"It is logical to have a direct gubernatorial election, as the
upcoming presidential and legislative election in 2004 will also
use the direct election system," said Tigor.

He explained that through the direct election the leader would
directly be responsible to the people, thus eliminating the
possibility of bribery, which allegedly occurred during the
reelection of Sutiyoso last year.

"Transparency can easily be maintained as the public will have
the right to question or to ask for accountability," he said.

"What we need now is clean government that can give us clear
answers to our questions. That can only be achieved through
direct gubernatorial elections," he concluded.

The current governor was elected by city councillors. A
majority of the 85-member City Council voted for Sutiyoso,
despite strong protest from students and many others.

Sutiyoso, was first appointed in 1997 under the Soeharto
regime. Before he held the position of governor, he was the
Jakarta Military Commander. It was during this period that the
July 27, 1996, bloody attack on the Indonesian Democratic Party
headquarters occurred. Sutiyoso remains implicated in the attack
but, as of today, a thorough investigation into the incident has
still to be carried out.