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.