Soldier elected council chief

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: Burhanuddin Ali from the Armed Forces faction was elected chief of the provincial legislative council yesterday amid students protest.

Burhanuddin won 37 votes while his only rival, Hasan Saleh, from the dominant Golkar faction, received only five votes. Three councilors were absent.

The election was marred by dozens of students who staged a noisy demonstration urging Golkar councilors to elect Hasan Saleh as Golkar's board of executives in Jakarta has sought.

The protesters said the election of Burhanuddin was "unfair" because Golkar won the May 29 election in South Sulawesi and therefore deserved the council chairmanship.

The Armed Forces, which plays a dominant role in politics, does not vote in general elections but they are granted seats in legislative councils and the House of Representatives.

When Hasan met with the demonstrators, he said he could understand their frustration but assured them that Burhanuddin was elected fairly.

Lakama Wiyaka, a councilor from Golkar, said in areas outside Java, the legislative council chairmanship was apparently reserved for the Armed Forces to assure political stability. (31)