Govt team still looking into Kampar case: Minister

Mikael Onny Setiawan and Haidir Anwar Tandjung, Balikpapan, Riau

Home minister Hari Sabarno has hinted that the central government will not make a final decision on the fate of Kampar Regent Jefri Noer in the near future because an investigation into the regent's case was still ongoing.

In the meantime, teachers and students in Kampar gave the minister three days to approve the regent's dismissal, otherwise they will resume their street protests on Wednesday. They had initially planned to return to the streets on Monday.

Responding to the teachers' threat, Hari said in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, on Monday that a final decision would be made only after the result of the investigation was reported to President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"Our team is still probing the case and its result will be announced to the public soon after it makes a recommendation in line with the investigation's result," he said.

Hari, along with Indonesia Military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, was in Balikpapan to monitor preparations for the April 5 general election.

Some 7,000 teachers in Riau province have threatened to resign if the home minister does not approve Jefri's dismissal as proposed by the Kampar regency legislative council. It also suggested that Jefri's deputy, A. Zakir, be replaced.

In line with the 1999 Regional Autonomy Law, the regency legislative council is waiting for approval from the central government for the two official's dismissal.

The regental legislature unanimously agreed to dismiss the regent and his deputy on Feb. 21 to put an end to protests that were paralyzing public services and disrupting the political situation in the province.

Tens of thousands of teachers and students in the province demonstrated in protest against the expulsion by the regent of a senior high school principal from a meeting room, which they said was a insult to the teaching profession.

The school principal, Abdul Latief, was ordered to leave the meeting room when he questioned the regency's 2004 low education budget. Later, Jefri denied he had expelled Latief due to his question about the education budget.

The chairman of the local chapter of the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI), M. Yasir, said the teachers had agreed to delay demonstrating again until Wednesday in an attempt to give time for the central government to make an objective decision.

"We will return to the streets to air our demands, plus 7,000 teachers will resign if the home minister decides not to act on the Kampar regency legislature's decision," he said.

The regency legislature has called on Riau Governor Rusli Zainal to take over the administration in Kampar to prevent the political situation from worsening, but provincial administration spokesman Sjaifuddin said the governor could not do so as it was against the law.

Head of the provincial education office Emrizal Pakis called on teachers and the PGRI not to politicize education because it would only disadvantage them and their students.