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.