Provincial legislative body dismisses Aceh governor
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Ramli Ridwan, a senior staff member at the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been named the acting governor of Aceh in place of Syamsuddin Mahmud, who went out following a vote of no confidence from the provincial legislature recently.
A presidential decree dated June 7 approved Syamsuddin's substitution and the hand-over ceremony of the gubernatorial post has been set for June 21. The ousted governor will have a new post in Jakarta as deputy chairman of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).
Spokesman for the provincial administration Teuku Pribadi said Tuesday that 29 out of 49 members of the local legislative council petitioned Syamsuddin's dismissal on April 29 for being too slow in handling Aceh's problems. The vote of no confidence was given after the governor's annual report before the legislators.
Syamsuddin, a scholar from the local Syah Kuala state university, took office in 1993 to replace Ibrahim Hasan who was then named a minister under the government of then president Soeharto. Syamsuddin won another five-year term in 1998.
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung regretted on Friday the move that toppled Syamsudin.
"There has been misinterpretation of the law. A governor is obliged to present his or her annual report, but it should not be considered an accountability report," Akbar said.
He said he could understand the dismissal if it had a strong legal basis and was in line with people's aspirations.
Chairman of the House's Commission II for domestic and legal affairs Amin Aryoso supported Akbar's view, saying the ousting of Syamsuddin would create legal uncertainty of a governor's duties.
"If this happens, the legislative council could sack a governor every year," Amin said.
Syamsuddin took his dismissal easily and said he would enjoy whatever post was given to him.
"If they want me to resign, fine. I have no complaint," he said.
Students and activists, however, protested Ramli's appointment as caretaker, labeling him a close confidant of former governor Ibrahim and part of the New Order.
Hundreds of students from various universities rallied at the provincial administrative building on Friday morning.
"The councilors only think about how much salary they could earn and never think about the people. They only create cheap political maneuvers. There are lots of Acehnese who deserve the gubernatorial post," one of the students, Zukhri M.S. Adnan, said.
Violence, meanwhile, also continued to rock the province, as two people were killed and another man suffered burn injuries in a mortar blast in Babah Buloh village in North Aceh on Thursday.
North Aceh Police chief Lt. Col. Syafei Aksal said Razali, 45, died on the scene while Husni, 16, died later in the Lhokseumawe General Hospital. Ramli Abdullah, 36, survived the blast.
The military also arrested an armed Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebel leader and three of his followers in Jeungki village at Peureulak district, East Aceh.
"The four men were arrested on Tuesday at a house in Peureulak," East Aceh Military chief Lt. Col. K. Irawan said on Friday.
The GAM field commander is identified as Syahrul Idris, 35, and his three followers are Badaruddin, 25, Syaiful, 20, and Zaini, 40. (50/edt/jun)