Groups press councillors to fire Governor Sutiyoso

JAKARTA (JP): Some 200 activists from six groups staged rallies at the City Council compound on Wednesday demanding that councillors dismiss Governor Sutiyoso over his failure to maintain order in the capital and his alleged involvement in the July 27, 1996 incident.

The six groups were from the Jakarta Unemployed Forum (FPPJ), the July 27 Youth Organization (GP-27 Juli), the Association of Victims of the July 27 tragedy, the Depok-Jakarta Student Network (JMDJ), the Communication Forum of the 124 victims of the July 27, 1996 incident (FKK 124) and the Jakarta Rescue Council of Reforms (DPR Jakarta).

Three groups -- FKK 124, GP-27 Juli and the Association of Victims of the July 27 tragedy -- similarly questioned the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction over rumors that three councillors had been bribed by Sutiyoso to ensure his governorship until the end of his term in 2002.

"We just want to meet the three councillors and hear what they have to say about the accusation," Achmad Fikri of FKK 124 said, referring to Binsar Tambunan, chairman of Commission A for government affairs; Audi I. Z. Tambunan, chairman of the PDI Perjuangan faction and Agung Imam Soemanto, deputy chairman of the faction.

The three councillors, however, were apparently attending an internal PDI Perjuangan faction meeting in Ancol, North Jakarta, discussing Sutiyoso's accountability speech.

Fikri said the communication forum also regretted the faction's failure to pressure the authorities to speed up their investigation into the 1996 incident and announce the high- ranking military officers who were allegedly involved.

Separately, DPR Jakarta protesters demanded that Sutiyoso be dismissed as he had failed to eradicate rampant corruption, collusion and nepotism within the administration.

Meanwhile JMDJ, comprising 15 campuses in the Depok and Jakarta areas, failed to meet chairpersons of the council's eleven factions. They dispersed peacefully after their demand was not met.

Earlier in the day, the City Council's Commission E for public welfare held a meeting with the Jakarta Unemployed forum, which demanded an explanation of money politics within the City Council and the administration and asked the councillors to fire Sutiyoso over his failure to curb vice in the capital. (lup)