Governors now more accountable

JAKARTA (JP): The government has issued a new regulation that authorizes city councils to demand the accountability of the governor at any time they deem necessary, an official said on Tuesday.

The regulation No. 108/2000 allows a city council to demand the governor give an accountability speech if the councils learn the governor is involved in corruption or any criminal case, Hironimus, a member of the team in charge of publicizing government regulations at the Ministry of Home Affairs, said.

"The councils can use the opportunity to force the governor to resign from his governorship," he said after attending a discussion on the accountability of governors at the Nugra Santana building in Central Jakarta.

The old regulation required governors to give an accountability speech before the end of their five-year term.

Hironimus said that if a council did force the governor out of office, it meant the council failed in its function to control the governor in carrying out his duties.

"The council can remind the governor at any time he has done something wrong, and does not have to wait until the governor's annual accountability speech," he said.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso is scheduled to present his annual accountability speech on March 20. (04)