Government told to be firm against convicted regent

Government told to be firm against convicted regent

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam

Deputy speaker of the Riau Islands legislative council
Syafaruddin Aluan demanded on Tuesday that Hari Sabarno, the
Minister of Home Affairs, annul a government decree endorsing the
appointment of Huzrin Hood as the regent of the Riau Islands.

The resolute step was needed in order to end the chaos in the
Riau Islands government after Huzrin, the current regent, was
convicted and imprisoned for corruption, he said.

"There was a split in the administration after the verdict,
which has made the system of governance here ineffective,"
Syafaruddin said.

Huzrin was jailed by the Tanjung Pinang District Court in
early October for two years on charges of corruption involving Rp
3.46 billion (US$407,058) from the regency's 2001 budget.

Huzrin filed an appeal with the Riau High Court after the
verdict.

The wheels of government in the regency have largely ground to
a halt since the verdict. A group of people who consider Huzrin
no longer fit to retain his post after his conviction has
demanded that he step down.

Deputy regent Anshar Achmad has also been demanding that
Huzrin step down.

Huzrin himself, backed by his staunch supporters, has so far
managed to maintain his position. Facing off with the opposition,
Huzrin said that he would reshuffle his administration and
replace the deputy regent.

Syafaruddin said the ordinary people would be the victims of
this messy situation as public services were being badly
affected.

"There is no other way to save the people from this situation,
except that the minister steps in to annul the decree endorsing
the appointment of Huzrin as the regent of the Riau Islands," he
said.

Huzrin was elected by Riau councillors, and the government has
issued a decree endorsing the election.

Meanwhile, Hendie Devitra, Huzrin's lawyer, defended a recent
decision by the Riau High Court placing Huzrin under house
arrest.

The decision, which was made at Huzrin's request, was
announced on Saturday only 10 days after Huzrin was imprisoned by
the Tanjung Pinang court for corruption.

"The decision will make it easier for him to carry out his
day-to-day duties as regent," said Hendie.

The decision benefits Huzrin as he no longer has to stay in
prison. But, only two days after the decision was made, Huzrin
sought more privilege from the High Court on Monday. He filed an
application with the High Court to be placed under city arrest in
order to give him greater freedom and enable him to carry out his
duties as regent.

Hendie said the demand was justified. He said Huzrin remained
the legitimate regent -- although he was convicted of graft -- on
the ground that the appeal process to the higher court was
underway.

Separately, local legal observer Bambang Yulianto urged Huzrin
to step down.

"He is no longer fit to serve as regent as he has been
convicted of corruption. He must step down to maintain the
credibility of the regency administration," he said.