Govt gives go-ahead to Maluku legislature to elect new governor
Govt gives go-ahead to Maluku legislature to elect new governor
Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon, Maluku
After receiving a green light from the central government, the
Maluku Legislative Council will be making preliminary
preparations to hold a gubernatorial election after a delay of
nine months.
Legislative council deputy chairman Jhon Mailoa said in a
press conference here on Saturday that the provincial legislature
was scheduled to hold a plenary session on Monday to form a
gubernatorial election committee that will be chaired by
legislator Zeth Sahuburua.
"Despite the civil emergency, the situation in Maluku has been
deemed conducive to hold a gubernatorial election. We need a
permanent governor to lead the province ahead of the June 2004
general election and presidential election," he said.
He did not name a date for the gubernatorial election but said
it would be held this year.
Home minister Hari Sabarno has delivered an official letter,
asking the provincial legislative council to elect a new governor
for the 2003-2008 period.
The central government had delayed the gubernatorial election
that should have been held last September, for an indefinite
period due to the political instability in the province, and
appointed Sinyo Herman Sarundayang as acting governor.
Months before and after September last year, several areas in
the province, including the provincial capital of Ambon, were
rocked by bomb blasts, prompting the central government to delay
the gubernatorial election.
Certain groups who were disappointed with the signing of the
February 2002 Malino peace agreement are believed to be behind
the series of bomb blasts.
The situation in the province became heated in April in
connection with the celebration of the South Maluku Republic
(RMS) separatist movement's 53rd anniversary. Dozens of RMS
supporters and leaders were sent to prison and arrested for
raising the outlawed organization's flag.
The political instability is partly the result of the three-
year sectarian conflict that claimed more than 6,000 lives and
displaced around 750,000 people. The conflict erupted on Jan. 19,
1999.
Mailoa said further that the provincial legislature would
coordinate closely with the civil emergency administrator and the
local and military authorities to maintain security and order
during the gubernatorial election.
"We will set a schedule for all phases ranging from the
selection of gubernatorial candidates to the election and
installation of a new governor," he said, adding that he had no
idea who would be running in the election.
He acknowledged that the situation in the province was
gradually returning to normal and the legislature would ask the
central government to ask the central government to lift the
civil emergency after the province elected a new governor.