PDI-P member asks Sutiyoso to step down

JAKARTA (JP): A councillor on Monday asked Governor Sutiyoso to take a leave from office as he was named a suspect in the 1996 forcible takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters.

Pantas Nainggolan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction said the central government should suspend the governor pending further investigation of the case.

"From a legal point of view, Sutiyoso should temporarily step down as his current position will apparently hamper investigation of the case," Pantas told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

"The case is similar to the one of Gen. (ret) Wiranto, who was suspended following the investigation of East Timor abuse.

"So the President (Abdurrahman Wahid) should do the same to Sutiyoso," he added.

Pantas, who is also secretary of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction at City Council, said the upcoming implementation of the Regional Autonomy Law in January might give more power to City Council to dismiss the governor over an alleged crime.

"If the court declares him guilty, we will elect a new governor for the capital," he said.

Deputy council speaker Djafar Badjeber of the United Development Party (PPP) faction, however, took a cautious stance on the matter, saying he would first study the case to determine whether Sutiyoso's status as a suspect might have an impact on his position or not.

"I cannot comment on Sutiyoso's status as we have to study the case first," Djafar said.

Councillor Amarullah Asbah of the Golkar Party faction also refused to comment, saying that his faction had yet to discuss the matter.

Sutiyoso, who was the Jakarta Military commander when the 1996 tragedy occurred, has been named a suspect in the incident, along with former Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Hamami Nata and seven other officials.

The attack on PDI headquarters triggered mass unrest in Central Jakarta, leaving at least five people killed and 23 others reported still missing.

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi said that usually if the governor was engaged in a lawsuit and could not perform his daily duties, the governor had the authority to appoint an acting governor.

He said he had repeatedly been appointed the caretaker position when Sutiyoso was on an official overseas trip.

"However, if the governor cannot perform his duties for an indefinite period of time, then it is the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy whether to elect a new governor," he added. (dja)