'Megawati's support for Sutiyoso ridiculous'

'Megawati's support for Sutiyoso ridiculous'

The upcoming gubernatorial election is looming. Several
candidates have been named. President Megawati Soekarnoputri has
ordered her PDIP councillors to support Sutiyoso, who will run
for his second term, despite widespread public criticism. What do
people think about it?

Dian Widyanarti, is a private company employee who lives in
East Jakarta. She used to work as a liaison officer for foreign
non-governmental organizations.

"I think it's quite a weird partnership, noting the fact that
President Megawati Soekarnoputri backs governor Sutiyoso to be
re-elected in the upcoming gubernatorial race.

"If I were Mega, I would never ever support the person who had
badly hurt me. Sutiyoso was allegedly deemed responsible for the
July 27 tragedy that caused many deaths and injuries. Mega is
inconsistent.

"Megawati's reason to support him to maintain security in the
city is unjustifiable noting the fact that Sutiyoso fails to curb
street crime and many other unlawful acts in the capital. Mega
was just exaggerating Sutiyoso's credibility on security matters.

"I'm afraid Mega's support means that she promotes insecure
living in the city. It's nonsense notion of the state woman! But,
who knows?"

Ratrini Idris, 26, an employee of a public accountant office
on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta. She moved here from Surabaya,
East Java four years ago.

"I follow the gubernatorial election process in the
newspapers. I personally think Megawati's order to PDIP
councillors to support Sutiyoso is the most ridiculous one
imaginable.

"I don't understand why she said that Sutiyoso's background in
the military is beneficial to the upcoming general session. It's
nonsense. I alleged that it happened due to her personal
relations with Sutiyoso. Otherwise, how come she rejects her
supporters' aspirations not to support him?

"Perhaps it related to the fact that Sutiyoso had protected
her family-owned gas stations on green belts from eviction in the
city. The press have also alleged that Sutiyoso's nomination has
something do with his financial support for PDIP. Those
allegations might be true as Megawati is reluctant to explain it
to public clearly."

A. Siregar, 45, a clerk at the Central Jakarta District Court.
He has been living here for 17 years.

"Megawati supports Sutiyoso? I don't really pay attention to
it as I have a limited knowledge on politics. I think he does not
deserve it. Wasn't he involved in the July 27th tragedy several
years ago?

"Anyway, Megawati's reasoning to support him is understandable
for one point as Sutiyoso is in the military. It probably has
something to do with security for the upcoming election. But, I
don't think a governor's job is only to take care of the security
here. We've got the police here. It's their job to maintain
security."