Fair mayoral election demanded

Fair mayoral election demanded

TANGERANG (JP): Hundreds of students rallied at the Tangerang
legislative council here on Wednesday, demanding a fair and
objective mayoral election for the 1998/2003 term.

The students claimed to represent two groups, the Tangerang
Students Communication Forum (FKMT) and the Tangerang Ukhuwah
Islamiyah Forum (FUIT).

Several councilors, including RS Ruchiyat of the council's
Golkar faction, met with FKMT student leaders.

The students demanded that the mayoral election be held as
soon as possible, according to FKMT coordinator Sadudin.

"We also called on the councilors to reject any bribes offered
by candidates or parties during the election process," he said.

"We believe the councilors, as representatives of the people,
should defend the people's aspirations and uphold public
interests, not the interests of a single person or a solitary
group," he added.

Iskandar Zulkarnain, head of FUIT, also urged the council to
hold the mayoral election democratically. (41/hhr)