Councillors criticizes for sequestration
Councillors criticizes for sequestration
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra
An activist of a civil rights non-governmental organization (NGO)
condemned on Monday the Deli Serdang regental council's move to
sequester 45 councillors at the Grand Angkasa Hotel in Medan, the
capital of North Sumatra.
The councillors have been sequestered in the hotel since
Monday, three days before they elect a Deli Serdang regent and
deputy regent scheduled on Thursday.
"The sequestration wastes the public's money," said Edi
Rianto, executive director of the People Mandate Forum in North
Sumatra.
"Past experience has taught us that money politics still
occurs across the country, even though sequestration was
imposed," he said.
He added that, by isolating the councillors, it would be even
easier to bribe them.
Separately, Deli Serdang Council deputy chairman Hasaiddin
Daulay said the local administration had to spend about Rp 54
million (US$63,53) on accommodation and meals for the
councillors.
Although the cost was dear, he said, the councillors had to be
sequestered to prevent money politics and to ensure an honest and
fair election.
He defended the practice, saying that under sequestration,
Council leaders and the public could watch over the councillors
and quickly detect any fishy deals.
"If bribery or money politics still happens despite our
efforts to prevent it ... then it is out of our hands. It really
depends on the conscience of the councillors," said Hasaiddin.
The Deli Serdang Council endorsed last week two pairs of
candidates to contest the regental election: incumbent regent
Abdul Hafidh and running mate Edi Rangkuti, secretary of the
North Sumatra chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan); and Amri Tambunan, head of the North
Sumatra Information and Communication Office, and running mate
Yusuf Sembiring, a businessman.
The first pair was nominated by the PDI Perjuangan faction and
the second was nominated by the Golkar Party and Reform factions.