Councillors swear they did no wrong

Councillors swear they did no wrong

Bambang Nurbianto and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

"We swear to God, we did no wrong in the (presidential)
election," said leader of the City Council's Democratic Party
faction Johny Wenas Polii on Tuesday. "Never in my life have I
been asked to take an oath twice -- and over such an embarrassing
case."

Sixteen councillors from the party held a press briefing to
assert they were not to blame for the defeat of council speaker
candidate Ahmad Heryawan of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

They were asked to swear they were innocent twice, witnessed
by several clergymen and Democratic Party leaders.

Among other councillors from the party who attended the
briefing were Abdul Muthalib Shihab, Vike Verry Ponto, Denny
Taloga, Lucky Sastrawiria, Solekan Sularso and Maria Heni
Longkeng -- all of them backed Johny's statement.

One councillor said that, as they were all religious men, it
was not necessary to take two oaths.

Democratic Party councillors had signed an agreement to
support Heryawan in the council speakership race. However, doubts
arose as to whether the councillors had upheld the agreement as
Heryawan lost to Ade Surapriatna of the Golkar Party faction.

Earlier, leader of the party's Jakarta chapter Husein Abdul
Azis, said the councillors had "betrayed" their party in the
election. Eight councillors may face party sanctions, most likely
recall, or dismissal from the party.

The party has informed the Jakarta General Elections
Commission (KPUD) of its plan to recall the eight councillors.

"The board of the Democratic Party's Jakarta chapter has
reported its recall plan to the KPUD. We are still waiting for
the party's proposal," KPUD chairman Muhamad Taufik said.

He added that the KPUD would screen candidates put forward by
the party to replace the councillors.

Article 91 of Law No. 22/2003, on Local legislative councils,
stipulates that a party has the right to recall a councillor on
five conditions: a councillor has a permanent handicap that
prevents them from carrying out their duties, a councillor does
not meet the requirements stipulated by the election law, a
councillor violates the oath or the code of conduct, a councillor
takes up a second job, or a councillor is convicted of a crime.

Taufik said his office would only need two days to check the
credentials of proposed replacements, as the law was clear on the
correct procedure for this.

He referred to article 92(b) of the law, which says the
candidate who is next on the legislative candidacy list will fill
the vacant position.