Rumors on Puteh's dismissal abound

Rumors on Puteh's dismissal abound

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Rumors have been making the rounds in Aceh that Governor Abdullah
Puteh will be dismissed for his failure to control the war-torn
province.

Antara news agency reported on Saturday that the rumored
dismissal had become a hot topic of conversation among locals.

Many Acehnese seem to feel that the governor should be
dismissed for his failure to halt corruption in the
administration, though other residents feel Puteh should be
allowed to serve out his term.

Critics have also slammed the governor for not doing more to
ensure the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities
Agreement, which was signed by the Indonesian government and the
Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to end the 26-year conflict in the
province.

Puteh was sworn in as governor in December 2000 and his term
is due to end in December 2005.

Nasir Djamil, a member of the provincial legislative council,
said that although Puteh was elected by the provincial
legislature, the central government had the authority to dismiss
him if he was considered unable to govern.

"Aside from the rumors, the President (Megawati Soekarnoputri)
has the authority to dismiss the governor before his term in
office ends. The government must have strong reasons (to dismiss
Puteh), like strong indications of rampant corruption in the
province," he said.

Nasir said that Puteh had the support of a number of
councillors in the provincial legislature, but had failed to win
backing from Acehnese figures both inside and outside of the
province.

"The Acehnese have seen that the administration has been
mismanaged," he said.

Zaini Z. Alwy, chairman of Commission D in the provincial
legislature, lashed out at those spreading the rumors.

According to Alwy, who is close to Puteh, the governor could
not be blamed for the conflict in the province because all sides
had to be responsible for implementing the peace agreement.

"I am not sure that the Aceh conflict will end just because
the governor is dismissed," he said.

Alwy also called on the Supreme Audit Agency to audit the
administration to prove whether the allegations of corruption
were true.

Puteh, during a visit to Padang, the capital of West Sumatra,
said the central government should heed the wishes of the
provincial legislative council, which elected him to lead the
province until 2005.

"There is no problem if the President dismisses me but it
should be done in accordance with the law. The central government
should listen to the provincial legislature, which elected me to
govern the province," he said.

According to the 1999 regional autonomy law, governors
represent the central government in the regions. Megawati has the
power to dismiss governors because they were sworn in with the
President's approval.

The provincial administration under Puteh has also come under
fire, as Puteh has allegedly failed to combat corruption and to
make political and economic improvements over the last two years.

Under its special autonomy status, Aceh has generated income
amounting to 80 percent of the national revenue from the
exploration of natural resources in the province. This year, the
province is expected to make more than Rp 3 trillion from the
exploration of natural resources.