City's next governor civilian: PDI-P

City's next governor civilian: PDI-P

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After announcing the nomination of its deputy chairman, Roy B.B.
Janis, in October's gubernatorial election, the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) confirmed its
stance on Monday of rejecting candidates from the military or
retired military personnel.

The party, which has 30 seats on the 83-seat city council, has
taken a stance that will reduce current Governor Sutiyoso's
chances of reelection to a second term.

Sutiyoso, whose accountability speech on the 2001 city budget
was accepted by the council, was the Jakarta Military Commander
before being elected governor.

"We guarantee that the next governor will be a civilian; you
can count on that," PDI Perjuangan city chapter chairman Tarmidi
Suhardjo, told reporters.

Tarmidi, who is also a deputy chairman of the council,
revealed that the party would convene a special meeting next
month. The meeting would determine three candidates from the
party to be proposed to the central board, currently chaired by
PDI Perjuangan chairwoman, Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also
the nation's President.

"It's no longer time for this city to be led by a military
person, whether active or retired. We'll advise Ibu Megawati that
the next governor should be a civilian and a member of the
party," he said.

Roy is not the only civilian candidate.

The Native Jakartans Association (Bamus Betawi) has proposed
City Secretary Fauzi Bowo as a nominee, along with Harun
Alrasyid, currently the West Nusa Tenggara governor and former
Jakarta deputy governor in the 1990s, who was reportedly
nominated by the Golkar Party. The party could not be reached for
comment on Monday.

Tarmidi, chairman of the council's special team responsible
for formulating the election regulations, said factions from the
council were free to nominate candidates who were currently
living outside Jakarta.

The second-largest party, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and
the Justice Party threw their weight behind PDI Perjuangan's
stance.

"No longer should a military person be Jakarta governor," said
Justice Party faction chairman Ahmad Heryawan.

Jakarta was always led by military personnel during the New
Order regime. The gubernatorial election does not ban candidates
from the military, as long as they have gained permission from
their superiors.

Sutiyoso, a retired Army lieutenant general, has announced his
readiness to be reelected. Two other military figures that have
been nominated are State Intelligence Body (BIN) chief Lt. Gen.
(ret) A.M. Hendropriyono and City Council chairman Maj. Gen. Edy
Waluyo.

However, Sutiyoso was criticized for his administration's poor
performance, especially its failure to deal properly with the
garbage issue last year and for not giving adequate prior warning
to Jakartans before the massive floods that paralyzed the city
earlier this year. The administration's tardy response in helping
flood victims has also contributed to his tarnished image.

Tarmidi -- earlier named as a suspect, along with two other
city councillors, by the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office in a
controversial foreign trip -- said Roy, the party's former city
chairman, was nominated because he fulfilled the requirements for
the position, including that candidates had to have knowledge
about the city and be known to Jakartans.