Protesters demand annulment of election

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Dozens of activists and city councillors marched to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday, demanding the annulment of the recent election of Sutiyoso and Fauzi Bowo as the new governor and deputy governor of Jakarta, due to allegations of money politics.

The activists from several non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta), the Islamic Defenders Front and the Betawi People's Association (POB) urged Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno not to inaugurate Sutiyoso before the case on alleged corruption was solved.

"We hope the minister looks into the allegations of money politics before swearing Sutiyoso in," councillor Abdul Aziz Matnur of the Justice Party told reporters.

Aziz also questioned the ministry's response to his party's complaint letter, which, along with the National Mandate Party and the Crescent and Star Party, asked the ministry to probe irregularities during the election.

The parties protested the ballots, which were marked by councillors who supported Sutiyoso during the vote on Sept. 11.

Besides marked ballots, two failed gubernatorial candidates, Mahfudz Djaelani and Endang Darmawan, reportedly offered bribes during the election.

However, NGO activists and councillors were annoyed as none of the ministry's officials would talk to them.

"We regretted that no officials would talk to us. We will be back here next Monday," Fakta's chairman Azas Tigor Nainggolan said.

The protests against Sutiyoso's reelection have yet to end and cries calling for him and Fauzi to step down may well continue until inauguration day, scheduled for Oct. 7.

Undeterred by the mounting protests, Sutiyoso decided on Thursday to take a one-week leave. He reportedly went back to his hometown of Semarang in Central Java for a rest, starting on Thursday.

Since election day, Sutiyoso was reportedly sick for a week and rested at his official residence. Some scheduled programs were canceled before he resumed work early this week.