Provincial council rejects Soewardi

SEMARANG, Central Java: Central Java provincial council factions has called on outgoing Governor Soewardi not to participate in the next gubernatorial election.

"We hope Governor Soewardi will wholeheartedly waiver renomination for the 1998/2003 period," Col. Didi Soepardi of the Armed Forces faction said here yesterday.

Golkar faction chairman Mochammad Hasbi said the provincial Golkar branch had ordered his faction to reject Soewardi's renomination for the next period.

The speaker of the council, Alip Pandoyo, said many people in the province had voiced rejection of Soewardi's renomination.

"The council made the decision after consulting with Soewardi," he said here yesterday.

A number of mass groups, including students, have aired objection to Soewardi's renomination.

Soewardi's term of office will end in August.

Pandoyo said the council had a list of 20 names of people who were suitable for the position.

When asked to comment on the rejection of his renomination, Soewardi said he had never voiced a desire to stand for the position again. (har)