Council head says no deal with PDI-P

Council head says no deal with PDI-P

JAKARTA (JP): Elected City Council Speaker Edy Waluyo insisted
on Monday that neither himself nor his faction had made any deal
with any party for his reelection, including the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

"There is no bargain with PDI Perjuangan. Moreover, who knows
whether the votes for my nomination were from that party?" Edy,
from the military/police faction and the previous city council
speaker, told reporters after being sworn in with his three
deputy speakers.

The military major general also refuted the widespread
accusation that his faction, which did not vote in the June
general election, had bribed certain people, including
councilors, to pave the way for him to win last week's vote.

"It's a silly rumor. I was elected by the floor," Edi said.

Led by Jakarta High Court chief judge, I Gede Sudarta, the
swearing in ceremony took place during a plenary session at City
Council.

In the vote for speaker last Monday, Edy secured 40 votes
while his deputies Djafar Badjeber from the United Development
Party (PPP), Tarmidi Suhardjo from the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and M. Suwardi from the
National Mandate Party (PAN) got 30 votes, nine votes and no
votes respectively.

The result immediately sparked anger from supporters of PDI
Perjuangan, which gained the most votes in the June poll. Dozens
of PDI Perjuangan supporters expressed anger by staging noisy
protests against the move by their party's councilors.

Based on the result of the general election, PDI Perjuangan
has 30 seats, PPP and PAN have 13 seats each while the military
has nine seats in the council.

PDI Perjuangan leaders repeatedly explained that their move to
give 20 votes in favor of the military was aimed at getting
military support for the party in the People's Consultative
Assembly's General Session in November.

For God sake

While speaking to the press on Monday, Edy also asserted that
the military headquarters putting him forth as a candidate for
City Council speaker had nothing to do with guaranteeing the
tenure of Governor Sutiyoso, a newly retired three-star military
general.

"To save Sutiyoso? For God sake, of course not," Edy said.

He said he would have no hesitation in summoning Sutiyoso if
the latter were to make any mistakes, even though Sutiyoso was
his senior in the military.

Edy also underlined that Sutiyoso could end his tenure without
having to wait until 2002 as it is permissible according to new
Law No.22/1999 on regional administration.

"It's not necessary to see out his term. It could happen
anytime before his term ends," he said.

When asked to comment on Edy's statement, Sutiyoso
acknowledged that the difference in military ranks would not
affect the equal relationship between city administration
officials and city councilors.

"Besides, I've just retired from the military. I'm a civilian
now," he said after witnessing the ceremony.

According to the law, city councilors may propose a governor
resign if the City Council rejects his or her accountability
reports twice. (jun)