JP/5/hindu

JP/5/hindu

President linked to
Bali governor scandal

I Wayan Juniartha
The Jakarta Post
Denpasar, Bali

The Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hindu Youths Association (PHI)
says it has proof that recently reelected Bali Governor Dewa Made
Beratha paid councillors for votes.

The scandal involves members of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which is chaired by President
Megawati Soekarnoputri. The President directly backed the
reelection campaign.

PHI has demanded the Bali legislative council annul the
results of the gubernatorial election held on Dec. 6, and
investigate the alleged bribery.

The calls were made as PHI chairman Nyoman Sunartha presented
the results of its investigation to council election committee
head I.B. Nyoman Banjar in Denpasar on Monday.

Sunartha, accompanied by Bali Corruption Watch chairman
Wiratha Dwikora, said Beratha may have been involved in bribing
or attempting to bribe 39 members of the PDI Perjuangan faction
to secure votes.

Evidence to back the explosive claims included a travelers
check worth Rp 50 million, Rp 50 million in cash and two written
affidavits signed by two PDI Perjuangan councillors, Wayan
Nuastha and Pande Gde Soebratha.

Nuastha and Soebratha said the pay-offs took place when they
were quarantined at the Bali Cliff Resort prior to the election.

On the afternoon of Aug. 5, the two were asked to attend a
meeting, during which the party's deputy secretary general
Pramono Anung stated that they would each receive Rp 150 million
to support Beratha. Rp 50 million would be given up front, while
the rest would be delivered after Beratha won the election.

Beratha was allegedly present at the meeting along with his
running mate Alit Kelakan, PDI Perjuangan Bali chapter chairman
IB Wesnawa, his secretary Rai Wirajaya, his spokesperson Sutena
and party faction chairman Usdek Maharipa.

"At around 3 a.m. on August 6, Bali's PDI Perjuangan treasurer
I.B. Manuaba and the faction's treasurer Beratha Wiryadana
entered my room and handed me the check," Nuastha said.

"I was in such a depressed psychological condition at the time
that I had no choice but accept the check," he added.

Responding to the bribery report, Nyoman Banjar promised that
the gubernatorial election committee would hold a special meeting
to discuss the issue.

However, he claimed that as the PHI was not an officially
registered organization it had no right to file such a complaint.

The PDI Perjuangan faction moved swiftly to counter the
bribery issue. After a hastily arranged meeting, it issued a
written statement denying the allegations.

The statement said the money was provided by the PDI
Perjuangan central board in Jakarta to finance the party's
consolidation efforts in Bali ahead of the 2004 general
elections.

It was not true that the money was intended to bribe the
councillors to vote for Beratha, it added.

"The money is the party's internal matter and absolutely has
nothing to do in any way with Dewa Made Beratha," Usdek said in
the statement.

Beratha won his second five-year term after garnering 31 votes
in the election, defeating his strongest rival, wealthy
businessman Putu Gde Ary Sutha, who only pocketed four votes.

His victory was much contributed to by blatant backing from
President Megawati. Her intervention forced Badung Regent Cut
Ratmadi to withdraw his nomination despite the fact he was
supported by the province's party chapter.