Government calls for new election in North Maluku
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The uncertainty surrounding the North Maluku governorship is continuing as the central government wants another gubernatorial election to be held by the legislative council (DPRD) after branding the previous one as unlawful.
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno on Wednesday rebuffed speculation that the central government was not taking timely action to solve the leadership void in the province, saying that the governorship was entirely the responsibility of the provincial legislative council.
"If there's no decision by the council, what mechanism are we (the home affairs ministry) supposed to use? The Ministry of Home Affairs will only legitimize a process that has been gone through in accordance with the prevailing laws," Hari told reporters at the State Palace after accompanying President Megawati Soekarnoputri to officially open a conference marking Veterans' Day.
He stressed that the election of Abdul Gafur as governor last year was later annulled by the local council itself over Gafur's alleged involvement in money politics when campaigning for the governorship.
Gafur, whose election was annulled by the council last November, is still under investigation concerning the allegations.
On April 7, 2002, the North Maluku legislative council elected Thayib Armayin and Waisale as governor and deputy governor respectively during a second gubernatorial election, but the central government refused to ratify their appointments as the required quorum had not been reached during the election.
In the latest development, Hari installed Sinyo Harry Sarundayang as acting governor under Presidential Decree No. 54/M 2002 on March 23 to replace Muhyi Effendi, who was appointed as the first acting governor to lead the new province, which was formed in 2000.
Sarundayang is tasked with preparing a gubernatorial election for the 2002 - 2007 term in accordance with the prevailing mechanisms.
Commenting on the establishment of a coalition of "community" and non-governmental organizations styling itself the "People's Forum", which declared Abdul Gafur and Thayib Armayin to be the governor and deputy governor respectively, Hari said the central government would not acknowledge any such move as it ignored the formal election procedures.
"We cannot accept such a move. The government will only recognize the decision of the local legislative council as the people's aspirations are represented by the council," Hari said, adding that the declaration did not represent the will of the North Maluku people.
After Sarundayang's controversial appointment, hundreds of security personnel were deployed at his official residence to counter protests by Gafur's supporters.
There were no reports of casualties as a result of the protests.