Governors now more accountable

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)