Intrigue surrounds governor's letter

Intrigue surrounds governor's letter

Ahmad Junaidi
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Governor Sutiyoso has blamed his subordinates for typing the
wrong date of when his tenure ends in a letter to President
Megawati, which gave the impression that Sutiyoso had extended
his term.

His term ends on Oct. 6, but the letter says it ends on Oct.
31.

"I didn't pay much attention o the date because there were
many letters for me to sign," Sutiyoso said at City Hall on
Thursday. "But I forgive my subordinates and have sent a letter
of correction to the President," he said.

Separately, administrative affairs assistant to the city
secretary Thamrin Ekajati said the personnel who made the letter
thought Sutiyoso's term ended at the end of the month,
as retirement time for civil servants is normally at the end at
the month.

The officers wrote that Sutiyoso's term would end on Oct. 31
after consulting with personnel at the Ministry of Home Affairs,
Thamrin said.

He said another officer of the ministry later said that
Sutiyoso was a state officer, not a civil servant.

"But the letter was sent to the State Secretariat before
correction."

Sutiyoso, who has expressed a willingness to be reelected, was
earlier scheduled to deliver his accountability speech in June.
But the City Council has granted his request to delay it to July
18.

If the speech is rejected by the council, he would have no
chance of being reelected in October for another five-year term.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Government Watch chairman Amir Hamzah
viewed that Sutiyoso may have had a political motive for
extending his term.

He said that if Sutiyoso's accountability speech was rejected
by the council, he could try to cancel the gubernatorial
election. With an extension of term, he would have more time to
maneuver to create political chaos that would stop the electoral
process.

"He then might try to be appointed acting governor," Amir
said.

Amir also speculated that the letter could also have been made
by Sutiyoso's subordinates to tarnish his reputation prior to the
election.

Deputy Governor for Social Welfare Affairs Djailani and City
Secretary Fauzi Bowo will reportedly run for election.

Separately, the city chapter of the National Mandate Party
(PAN) announced on Thursday that it would nominate its chairman
Daniel Abdullah Sani as a governor or deputy governor candidate
in the election.