Mega, Hamzah back Sutiyoso reelection for governor

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

At least 24 forms were collected by individuals and mass organizations during the first day of registration for gubernatorial candidates at the City Council on Monday, with the incumbent Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso being tipped as the strongest candidate.

Five mass organizations, including the Nahdlatul Ulama Youth Movement (AMNU), the Indonesian Youth Movement (GPI) and the Indonesian Poor People's Solidarity (SMMI) organization, all took forms while stating their support for Sutiyoso.

The governor has also reportedly received "the green light" from President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz.

Chairman of the city chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Tarmidi Suhardjo revealed that Megawati, who was also the party's central board chairwoman, had asked the party's councillors to choose Sutiyoso.

"Ibu Megawati asked me to accept the deputy governor's post," Tarmidi, who was earlier nominated by the party's city chapter as its sole gubernatorial candidate, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Tarmidi and the party's city chapter secretary Maringan Pangaribuan met Megawati and her husband Taufik Kiemas at their residence on Jl. Teuku Umar, Central Jakarta, last Friday evening before the President left the country on a trip to a number of European countries the next day.

Although he expressed his "disagreement", Tarmidi felt unable to go against Megawati, although he hinted that Megawati's choice had been influenced by her husband Taufik.

Taufik reportedly met Sutiyoso and Hamzah Haz, who is also the chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), at the latter's house on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, last Friday afternoon.

Hamzah has also instructed his party's councillors to re-elect Sutiyoso as governor and allow the deputy governorship to go to the PDI Perjuangan.

"Yes, there is an instruction. We can't reject it," PPP's faction chairman on the council Chudlary Syafei Hadzami told reporters on Monday.

The PDI Perjuangan is the largest faction on the 83-seat council with 30 seats, while PPP is the third largest faction with 12 seats.

With the additional support of the Indonesian Military (TNI)/Police faction, Sutiyoso will almost certainly be re- elected in the gubernatorial election on Sept. 17.

Sutiyoso, who is a retired army general and former Jakarta Military Commander, admitted on Monday to having met Taufik and Hamzah Haz.

"But not for that reason (the election)," Sutiyoso told reporters at City Hall.

He viewed the "the green light" from Megawati and Hamzah Haz as being an honor, but said he would still seek the people's support before deciding to run for re-election.

As a payback for the two parties' support, Sutiyoso would assist the two parties in the run-up to the next general election in 2004.

PDI Perjuangan executives had earlier revealed that Sutiyoso would provide facilities for the party's branches, such as offices, computers and vehicles.

Tarmidi is expected to learn about city administration before he is elected to replace Sutiyoso in the future.

Sutiyoso's nomination was earlier rejected by the PDI Perjuangan as he was believed to have been involved in the bloody attack on the party's headquarters in 1996.

Besides the question of Sutiyoso's involvement in the attack, Tarmidi had also expressed his view that the party should choose a civilian governor in line with the reform movement.

Monday's registration day at the council was somewhat chaotic as registration appeared to be open to all and sundry, including a psychic, Arif Abi Dianto, from Cibubur, East Jakarta.