N. Sumatra gubernatorial candidates to present views

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

The North Sumatra provincial legislative council has picked three candidates to contend the gubernatorial election scheduled for May 15.

Of 40 gubernatorial candidates and 33 deputy gubernatorial candidates, the provincial legislature in its plenary meeting here selected on Monday incumbent governor T. Rizal Nurdin, chief of the government prosecutor's high office Chaeruman Harahap and Amrun Daulay of the Ministry of Social Affairs as gubernatorial candidates.

Rizal, with his running mate Rudolf Pardede, was nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction, Chaeruman and his running mate Serta Ginting were nominated by the Golkar Party faction, and Amrun and his running mate Baskami Ginting were nominated by the Indonesian Mandate Party (PAN) faction.

The United Development Party (PPP) and coalition factions with eight seats in the provincial legislature did not nominate any candidates, and neither did the Military/Police faction for reasons of neutrality.

"We have decided not to nominate any candidates, but this does not mean that we have no one in mind," secretary of the PPP faction Ali Jabbar Napitupulu said after the plenary session, which continued until late evening on Monday.

The chairman of the provincial legislative council, Ahmad Azhari, said the three gubernatorial candidates would be asked to present their respective vision, mission and programs to councillors on Wednesday. Based on their presentations, the councillors are expected to determine which candidate should lead the province for the 2003-2008 period.

According to the 1999 regional autonomy law, the names of the gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates will be sent to the home minister for approval before the election is held.

The new governor will be elected by the provincial legislative council, but the final decision rests with President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who will either approve or reject the governor elect.

For example, the President decided not to swear in Alzier Thabranie, governor elect of Lampung, because of his alleged involvement in several corruption cases there in the past.

Rizal is favored to win the upcoming gubernatorial election for his second term of office, as he has received the President's blessing.

Megawati, who also chairs PDI Perjuangan -- the party occupies 30 seats at the provincial legislature -- has instructed the PDI Perjuangan faction to provide political support for Rizal. Rizal is considered to have succeeded in maintaining security and order in the province over the last five years.

The Military/Police and other minor factions were also expected to support Rizal.

The President, according to close aides, prefers that the military, rather than a civilian, heads those provinces prone to security disturbances, in anticipation of the 2004 general elections.

She has also given her blessing to Tayo Tarmadi, former chief of the Siliwangi Military Command, to contend the West Java gubernatorial election, as well as Mardiyanto, former chief of the Diponegoro Military Command, to govern Central Java for a second term.