Students reject Sutiyoso's reelection

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Hundreds of university students demonstrated in front of the Jakarta City Council building on Wednesday to protest against incumbent Governor Sutiyoso's reelection bid.

Demonstrator Syarif Effrina, from Jakarta State University (UNJ), said councillors should not be reelect Sutiyoso on Sept. 11 as he was inept, among other things.

"He has failed at being a good governor so far, why should the council reelect him," said another demonstrator on Jl. Kebon Sirih.

The 200 demonstrators, from a number of universities, comprised students from the Student Executives Body (BEM) and the Anti-Obscenity Front (FAM), were received by several councillors at the building yard.

In its statement, BEM stressed that Sutiyoso did not deserve to be reelected for another five-year term.

"He is part of the New Order regime and the military, which were involved in human rights violations.

"The next Jakarta governor must be a clean and honest figure, and for reform," the statement, which was read by Jamas Pardosi, a councillor from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction, said. (See picture)

Sutiyoso appears to be the strongest gubernatorial candidate after winning support from President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who has ordered 30 councillors from her PDI Perjuangan faction in the City Council to vote for him.

Megawati, through the PDI Perjuangan's central board, also threatened administrative sanctions against those who violated her instructions.

Sutiyoso, who is paired with vice gubernatorial candidate City Secretary Fauzi Bowo, is also supported by eight councillors from the Golkar party faction and some of the nine councillors from the military-police faction.

Other potential candidates include chairman of Jakarta's PDI Perjuangan chapter Tarmidi Suhardjo, paired with Abdillah Toha, and Council Chairman Edy Waluyo who is paired with Ahmad Suaidy.