PDI-P nixes 10 councillors from 2004 candidacy list

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Ten Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) councillors have been dropped by the party from the list of City Council candidates for next year's general elections.

Among the 10 councillors are Sentayana Kiemas -- brother-in- law of chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, also the country's president -- and City Council speaker Agung Imam Sumanto.

The other eight are Audi IZ Tambunan, Ugiek Sugihardjo, Lembertus Gina Dara, Dadang Hamdani, Achmad Supangat, Batu Tahan Marpaung, Tubagus Sofyan Sahuri and Stefanus Surahmat.

The list of candidates was issued on Dec. 23 by the party's central executive board and signed by Megawati and secretary- general Sutjipto.

Council speaker Agung said on Wednesday that he had received a copy of the list.

"I am not on the list... I don't know why, but I accept the party's decision," he said after a meeting with Governor Sutiyoso at City Hall.

Sutjipto said the central executive board would assess those candidates nominated by regional executive boards and replace them with more qualified ones.

"We have the right to replace proposed candidates with better ones, because we want to improve the quality of our councillors," he said, declining to elaborate further.

PDI Perjuangan currently dominates the 80-member council with 30 seats. Analysts have predicted that the party would gain less votes next year due to its councillors' poor performance.

The competition will be tougher next year, as the number of available seats will be cut to 75.

Agung has been criticized for his demanding a police escort from the City Land Transportation Agency to travel from his house on Jl. Cipinang Bundar, East Jakarta, to City Council on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta.

Under the Traffic Law, only the president, vice president and state guests are permitted official motorcades.

Meanwhile, Sentayana has been criticized for his consistent absence from Council meetings.

As for Ugiek and Dadang, the two were known for speaking up against the party's unpopular decisions, including its nomination of Sutiyoso last year for his second tenure as Jakarta governor.

Ugiek said he did not mind the party's decision to drop him from the candidacy, as he already had tight schedule that included lecturing at a private university in Jakarta.

Seven other PDI Perjuangan councillors have been ranked lower on the list of Council candidates.

"I prefer not to comment... If I do, my comments will be negative," said Binsar Tambunan, who is 12th on the list for South Jakarta candidates.