Mayor's budget report rejected

BOGOR: Three councillors from the Justice Party faction of the Bogor council rejected on Monday the budget report delivered by Mayor Iswara Natanegara.

The head of the faction, Ruhiyat, said in a plenary session to deliver the factions' opinions that many irregularities had occurred during the implementation of the 2002 budget. For example, many traditional markets were neglected and new kiosks remained vacant, he said.

There are 45 councillors from 12 factions at the Bogor council. The remaining 42 councillors approved the budget report.

Outside the building, about 50 students staged a demonstration to reject the report. They said the mayor failed to solve problems related to security, public services and social affairs.

A number of people in civilian clothes tried to stop the students, with some threatening them with knives while security officers did nothing. --JP