National leaders confused over ousted mayor's status

National leaders confused over ousted mayor's status

Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

The Surabaya legislative council in East Java adopted on Friday a confusing stance on the status of the city's mayor, Bambang D.H., who it dismissed from his post last month.

The council agreed to allow the mayor to sign a revised 2002 draft budget for the country's second largest city during a plenary session despite his controversial dismissal.

However, it still warned Bambang against making other strategic decisions, including the appointment or replacement of government officials.

In addition, the council refused to discuss the mayor's precise status after Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno and East Java Governor Imam Utomo decided to continue recognizing Bambang as the legal chief of the city.

If Bambang had not signed the revised budget draft, it could have affected the fund allocations for local, state and public officials, including councillors.

Friday's session, which began at 8:30 a.m., had been suspended three times after several legislators raised questions about Bambang's presence in the forum.

H.M. Syukri from the National Awakening Party (PKB) said Bambang's presence in the plenary session was legally unacceptable as he was no longer the mayor as of July.

"We want the status of Bambang clarified first because it is related to legal certainty," he told the plenary session which was presided over by deputy council speaker Herman Rifai.

Armuji, chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction in the council, countered Syukri's argument.

Bambang's status was already clear that he remained the mayor, unless the central government approved the council's decision to remove him, Armuji said.

During the session, he presented the home affairs minister's letter dated Aug. 16, 2002, recognizing Bambang as the legal mayor and allowing him to endorse any strategic policies.

Bambang is an executive from the city's PDI Perjuangan branch. He was dismissed by the council on July 11, 2002, after a rejection of his budget accountability report for 2001.

The East Java governor threw his weight on Friday behind Bambang to defy the dismissal and stay in office with full powers.

"It is impossible that Pak Bambang to limit his authority because a government decree on his mandate does not change. He also continues to have full authority to lead Surabaya," Utomo said.

The governor, however, said an independent team would soon investigate whether the mayor's ouster was valid under the prevailing laws.

Utomo said the team would carry out its duties objectively for three months beginning from next week to issue recommendations, which will be the basis by which the home affairs minister decides to uphold or annul the council's decision.