Locals want Sanif as new governor

Locals want Sanif as new governor

JAKARTA (JP): A group of Betawi (native Jakarta) people
demanded on Friday that Governor Sutiyoso be replaced by native
Army let. gen. (ret) M. Sanif even though the incumbent would not
end his tenure until 2002.

The group, called the Movement of Supporters for the Betawi
Community's Aspirations, said the demand was inspired by three
parties dominating the June 7 general election who promised to
propose that a native Jakartan be elected as governor.

"Provincial leaders of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and
the United Development Party (PPP) met with Betawi leaders early
this month.

"They promised to fight for a Betawi governor," the group
chairman, Rusdi Saleh, said at a news conference at Hotel Sofyan
Betawi in Central Jakarta.

"We screened a number of native Jakartan figures and found
Sanif, with his experience, would be capable of leading the
city," he said.

PDI Perjuangan secured 29 seats of the 76-seat City Council in
the elections. PPP came second with 13 seats, while PAN was third
with 12 seats.

Rusdi, a former television presenter and city councilor,
declined to judge the leadership of incumbent Sutiyoso, saying it
would be the City Council's job to evaluate his work.

"We just delivered our aspiration," he said, adding that the
movement won the support of other ethnic groups living in the
city, including those from West Sumatra, West Java and East Java.

The group's secretary, Idris Masuri, said he expected the 54-
year-old Sutiyoso would resign by December at the latest. New
councilors will meet in December for a City Council plenary
session.

"We'll try hard to make it happen (Sutiyoso's resignation),"
Idris, also a labor activist, said.

Sanif was born in Jakarta on Aug. 30, 1930. He was commander
of the Northern Sumatra Bukit Barisan Military Command from 1981
until 1982.

Sutiyoso, an active Army lieutenant general, was installed as
governor on Oct. 6, 1997. Born in Semarang, he is a former
Jakarta Military commander. (jun)