Protesters demand annulment of election
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.