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)