Fired Aceh governor declines Bappenas job

Fired Aceh governor declines Bappenas job

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): The outgoing Aceh governor Syamsuddin
Mahmud lashed out on Monday at President Abdurrahman Wahid for
unseating him for unclear reasons.

Speaking to the media here after arrival from Jakarta,
Syamsuddin labeled the presidential decree upholding his removal
as a legally baseless decision.

"I was forced to resign by the President. The decree is
unacceptable because it violates both the regional autonomy law
and the Home Affairs Ministry decree No. 2/2000 that confirms my
appointment as Aceh's governor," he said.

The presidential decree states that Syamsuddin will be
replaced by Ramli Ridwan, a senior official at the Ministry of
Home Affairs. Syamsuddin has been given a state post in Jakarta
as a deputy to the head of the National Development Planning
Board (Bappenas).

But Syamsuddin said he has declined the new job and opted to
return to campus instead.

He is a professor from the state Syah Kuala University.

"The post in Bappenas requires a maximum age of 60 years,
while I'm already 65. I'm afraid my appointment will trigger
protests against Gus Dur," he said in reference to the President,
who is now abroad.

Earlier in the day, about 100 students rallied at the
provincial legislature to demand the disbanding of the council
for paving the way for Syamsuddin's removal with their vote of no
confidence.

Despite his objection to the dismissal, Syamsuddin, who took
office in 1993, said he would attend the handover ceremony on
Wednesday.

In Jakarta, State Minister of Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid
said the President's approval of Syamsuddin's dismissal was in
line with the local people's aspirations.

According to article 50 of Regional Autonomy Law No. 22/1999 a
governor is dismissed with the consent of two thirds of
provincial councilors before the decision is submitted and
approved by the President.

However the regulation also states that a governor can be
dismissed for being convicted of violating the law or involved in
a case which leads to a vote of no confidence by the provincial
legislature.

In an unusual condition, as stated in article 51, the
President is entitled to suspend the governor directly if the
governor is found guilty by a court and has to serve at least
five years in jail.(50/edt/jun/bby)