Councillors book plush hotel for election

Councillors book plush hotel for election

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java

On the eve of the regental election on Wednesday Cirebon regency
councillors stayed at star-rated hotels to avoid being bribed to
vote for a particular candidate.

The decision has drawn criticism from a number of
organizations, who believe it was an extravagance that should
have been avoided.

"We don't understand why they have to spend the night at
expensive star-rated hotels. It's better if they use the money to
help the Cirebon people who are struggling economically," Kholik
Mawardi, an activist from the Cirebon Islamic University, said on
Tuesday.

The hotels, a three-star hotel and a four-star hotel, are
located on Jl. Kartini and Jl. Tuparev in Cirebon regency
respectively.

The hotels are being used to "quarantine" members of the
National Awakening Party (PKB), Golkar Party, Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), National Mandate
Party (PAN), United Development Party (PPP) and Crescent Star
Party (PBB). However, members of the Indonesian Military/National
Police (TNI/Polri) faction have opted to stay in their own
houses.

The councillors also booked a room at another four-star hotel
to entertain chairman of PDI Perjuangan's central board Gunawan
Wirosaroyo and deputy secretary-general Mangara Siahaan.

PDI Perjuangan councillor Machmud Jawa insisted that the
policy was aimed at preventing money politics during the
election.

"It may seem extravagant... But please look beyond that. The
spirit of the decision is that we are determined to make this
election free of corruption," said Machmud.

The councillors will elect a new regent to replace Sutisna,
whose term has ended. Two pairs of candidates are vying for the
post, Dedi Supardi and Nurasyik and Glenarto and Nurudin Siradj.

Dedi and Nurasyik are nominated by the coalition of PDI
Perjuangan, PPP, PAN and PBB. Glenarto and Nurudin are nominated
by Golkar and PKB. The TNI/Polri do not have their own
candidates.

Cirebon council chairman Maskub Buntoro said that the
councillors were also barred from taking their cellular phones to
the hotels.

"We are not taking any chances. All communication devices are
barred from the hotels to prevent money politics," he said.

Maskub did not specify where the money to pay for the hotel
rooms was coming from.

"I can assure you that we are not using state funds. The money
came from the parties. This reflects a high awareness among the
parties of the need to make this election free of money
politics," said Maskub.