Dispute mounts over subdistrict chief reshuffle

TANGERANG (JP): A dispute over Mayor Mochammad Thamrin's decision to reshuffle 21 subdistrict chiefs of the mayoralty heightened on Thursday, with protests breaking out at several subdistrict offices here.

Some newly appointed subdistrict chiefs reportedly failed to turn up for work after angry residents blockaded and occupied the buildings.

Those who were forced out of their positions by the mayor's decision were the most vocal.

"We were fired without any notification," Abdul Hamid, a former subdistrict chief in Panunggangan Barat, said on Thursday.

Hamid said he had served 17 years as the area's subdistrict chief and had at one stage sold his land worth Rp 250 million to help build the subdistrict office.

"We don't want awards or prizes. All I ask for is a little respect," the senior Panunggangan resident said.

"At least they (officials from the mayoralty office) could have informed us in person about the reshuffle.

"The fact is that the mayoralty office did not give any reason or explanation about this. After all the years of hard work, this is very inhumane treatment of us," Hamid said tearfully.

Disappointed residents have threatened to stage a protest on Saturday, the day the newly appointed subdistrict heads are to be sworn in.

Locals threatened to see that the ceremony was canceled.

Panunggangan Barat residents have staged protests since Monday by occupying the subdistrict office.

They are demanding that the mayor provide an official explanation of his decision to replace their chief, Hamid, with someone they claimed was a stranger to them.

The Tangerang branch of the National Youth Committee (KNPI) on Thursday expressed strong support for the residents' complaints, but urged people to stay calm and not take the law into their own hands.

The committee's chairman, Ibnu Djandi, said he had sent at least three letters to Mayor Thamrin, asking him to explain his decision.

But the KNPI so far has received no reply from the Tangerang mayor, he said.

"The Tangerang administration must pay attention to the impact the reshuffle is having. The administration's secretary should have checked the subdistrict nominations carefully," Ibnu said.

On Monday, 100 residents from Cikokol subdistrict also staged a noisy rally in front of the Tangerang mayoralty office to protest the mayor's decision.

The group demanded Thamrin reassign their subdistrict chief, H. Yusuf, to lead their area.

"Thamrin did not consult with locals over the appointment of the new subdistrict chief," one of the protesters yelled.

Thamrin has appointed Subhan Sukanta as the new Cikokol subdistrict chief.

"We do not want him (Subhan) to lead, because he is not of Cikokol origin. We love Yusuf," the residents said.

The group met with the mayoralty secretary, Sujai, who told them that Yusuf had been replaced because he had reached retirement age.

"Yusuf is already 57 years of age. He's retired," Sujai explained to the crowd, promising to look into the matter.

Following Sujai's promise, the crowd dispersed. (41/edt)