Caretaker governor installed

Caretaker governor installed

PADANG, West Sumatra (JP): A demonstration accompanied the
installing of West Sumatra's caretaker governor on Saturday in
protest over what was seen as a symbol of the central
government's arrogance.

The protest took place outside the provincial legislature
where Maj.Gen. D. Dunidja was being officiated as caretaker
governor by Acting Minister of Home Affairs Feisal Tanjung. The
current minister, Syarwan Hamid, is on pilgrimage.

Governor Muchlis Ibrahim resigned after protesting Syarwan's
appointment of Zainal Bakar as deputy governor. Muchlis said he
did not approve of Zainal. Muchlis accused Syarwan of violating
the rules. The law on regional administration states candidates
for deputy governors are forwarded by provincial legislatures and
approved by the respective governor.

Security personnel blocked students from entering the
legislature. Student leaders urged colleagues to retreat to avoid
possible injuries. Security was tight in the city ahead of the
installment ceremony.

Representatives of local organizations here have said they
wanted a caretaker governor who hailed from the province.

"He won't be in office for long. I guarantee that Dunidja has
no chance of becoming governor. A caretaker hailing from the
province would cause complications as he might want to be renamed
as a candidate for governor," Feisal said.

People will elect a new governor after the June general
election, he said.

Dunidja is the director general of sociopolitical affairs at
the Ministry of Home Affairs.

A ministry official said last week that caretaker governors
were barred from running for the position of governor.

As a rule, a caretaker governor would be the director general
of administration and provincial autonomy. However, the
incumbent, Ryaas Rasid, has said he was too busy monitoring
preparations for the June polls and deliberating bills on
regional autonomy and fiscal balance. (28)