Groups press councillors to fire Governor Sutiyoso

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)