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)