Governors may be directly elected

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

Besides accommodating the demand for a direct presidential election, the amendment of the 1945 Constitution will also open the possibility of directly electing governors, regents or mayors in regions, an official said.

Burhanuddin Aritonang, the coordinator of the Ad-Hoc committee in charge of amending the Constitution, made the comment in Medan on Tuesday following a discussion on the legality of the draft amendment.

The discussion was attended by representatives of the North Sumatra regional administration, local legislative council, social organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities, students and the media.

The discussion of the legality of the amendment was aimed mainly at gathering input from various components of the community in regions throughout the country.

Commenting on proposals for the direct election of governors, regents and mayors, Burhanuddin said that although the idea was still in the form of discourse, it did not shut out the possibility of realizing it.

Based on Article 18 of the 1945 Constitution, governors, regents and mayors as leaders of the regions are chosen democratically, he said.

"Because they are elected democratically, there is a possibility that they are elected directly. But if the proposal is included in the Constitution, a new law will be needed for its implementation," he said.

In regard to the demand for a direct presidential election, most factions in the Assembly had expressed their intention to approve it, he said, adding that what was needed was only more lobbies before it was included in the Constitution.

"If the amendment is approved in 2002 and is followed by the approval for its laws in 2003, the direct presidential election can be applied in 2004," he said.

North Sumatra Governor Rizal Nurdin expressed his gratitude to the Ad-Hoc committee for its willingness to respond to the community's aspiration.

"We are grateful that the demand for the reform of the amendment to the 1945 Constitution has been accommodated by the Assembly," the governor said.