'Next Jakarta governor should not be from military'

'Next Jakarta governor should not be from military'

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Post

As a gubernatorial election nears in Jakarta, non-governmental
organizations (NGO) rejected on Sunday the possibility of a
governor with a military background being selected, saying this
would betray the reform agenda.

The NGOs, including the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), the
city chapter of the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) and
the newly established Gubernatorial Election Watch Committee
(KP2G) pointed out that one of the main demands of the reform
movement was the abolition of the military (TNI)/police's dual
role, especially their political functions.

"The gubernatorial candidates who have military backgrounds
also have records of human rights violations," the LBH's urban
division head, Tubagus Haryo Karbyanto, said in a public
discussion which was organized by the KP2G on Sunday.

The names of several candidates, most of whom have military
backgrounds, have reportedly been put forward for the
gubernatorial election, which will be held in October.

The candidates, including State Intelligence Agency (BIN)
chief Lt. Gen. (ret) A.M. Hendropriyono, former Udayana Military
Commander Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri and the current Jakarta Military
Commander Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo.

City Governor Sutiyoso, who is also a former Jakarta military
commander, has reportedly indicated that he would run for a
second five-year term.

Only a few civilian names have been proposed as candidates for
the governorship, including that of the current Jakarta Secretary
Fauzi Bowo, who was also a former treasurer of the city chapter
of the Golkar Party.

Except for Sutiyoso and Bibit, Hendropriyono, Adam and Fauzi
are all Betawi (native Jakarta) people.

Tubagus said that Hendropriyono, who is reportedly supported
by the council's largest faction, the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), was involved in human rights
violations in Talangsari, Lampung, in 1989, when his soldiers
killed some 30 people in a clash with a militant group in the
province.

He alleged that Adam Damiri, who was also the former Jakarta
Military Garrison chief of staff, was responsible for human right
violations in East Timor three years ago.

Walhi's executive director Ahmad Syafruddin supported Tubagus'
statement, adding the governorship should not be handed to the
former ruling Golkar Party due to its contribution to the
destruction caused by the past regime.

"Besides the military, Golkar people should also not be
elected to the governorship," Syafruddin said.

KP2G chairman Junaidi took the view that the gubernatorial
election would be conducted undemocratically with only a limited
number of candidates, mainly from the military.

"As in the past, the candidates are usually imposed from "the
top" and then approved by the council," Junaidi said.

PDI Perjuangan chairwoman and the country's President,
Megawati Soekarnoputri, have reportedly given their blessings to
Hendropriyono, who was registered as a party member last year,
while TNI headquarters is rumored to be backing Adam Damiri.

The Jakarta governor will be elected by the 85 members of the
City Council. The PDI Perjuangan has 31 seats on the council
while the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Mandate
Party (PAN) have 13 seats each.

The TNI has nine seats while Golkar is ranked fifth on the
council with eight seats.

During Sunday's discussion, the NGOs also demanded that the
governor should be directly elected in the future, instead of
being elected by the council.