N. Sumatra governor may secure second term

N. Sumatra governor may secure second term

Apriadi Gunawan and Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Medan/Bandung

North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin is likely to secure a
second term for the 2003-2008 period as President Megawati
Soekarnoputri has given her blessing for him to contend the
upcoming gubernatorial election.

The secretary of the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan) faction at the North Sumatra provincial
legislature, Idham Hasibuan, told The Jakarta Post here on
Saturday that Megawati in her capacity as PDI Perjuangan
chairwoman delivered a letter to the party's local chapter,
instructing all faction members to give their political support
for Rizal and his running mate Rudolf Pardede in the
gubernatorial election.

"The letter signed by Megawati on April 18 has been
disseminated to all faction members. As party cadres, we will
comply with the party leadership's instruction," he said.

Beforehand, the PDI Perjuangan faction had named eight figures
to contend the election, including Rizal and two other retired
generals. The two others were Maj. Gen. (ret) Radja Kami
Sembiring Meliala, former chief of the Trikora Military Command,
and Lt. Gen. (ret) Amir Sembiring. Rizal is the former chief of
the Bukita Barisan Military Command overseeing North and West
Sumatra and Riau.

The faction which has 30 seats at the legislature, was slated
to officially nominate the pair to the gubernatorial election
committee at the provincial legislature's plenary session on
Monday. The seven-member military/police faction is expected to
support Rizal in the election.

Golkar Party with 17 seats, is scheduled to nominate Chaeruman
Harahap, chief of the government prosecutor's office in Medan,
and running mate Serta Ginting, deputy chairman of the provincial
legislature.

The Reform faction with only eight seats, will nominate Amrun
Daulay, director general of social development affairs at the
Ministry of Social Affairs, and Baskami Ginting of the PDI
Perjuangan faction.

Meanwhile, the West Java provincial legislative council is
also expected to announce on Monday three gubernatorial
candidates to contend the incoming gubernatorial election to
replace outgoing governor R. Nuriana.

The PDI Perjuangan faction is expected to nominate Rudy Harsya
Tanaya, chairman of the party's local chapter while the Golkar
and National Awakening (PKB) factions are expected to nominate
Maj. Gen. (ret) Tayo Tarmadi, former chief of the Siliwangi
Military Command overseeing West Java.