Councillor tortured in Cirebon

CIREBON, West Java: A city councillor reported that he had been tortured by a group of unknown people as six parties joined hands to isolate a major political force ahead of the election of Cirebon mayor.

Iman Enang Gana, chairman of the local chapter of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) and a city councillor, said after the incident that those who tortured and intimidated him were sent by the Golkar Party.

Six party leaders held a caucus to discuss the election of Cirebon's mayor without inviting Golkar because its chairman, Akbar Tandjung, had been sentenced to three years in prison for his part in the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) scam.

Nominations for the post of mayor of Cirebon for 2003-2008 will start in October while the election will be held in January 2003, with the installation of the elected candidate scheduled for Feb. 16, 2003.

City council speaker Suryana, regretted the incident, saying "it is a form of contempt of the legislature, and I have asked the security authorities to investigate the case." --JP