Subdistricts told to hold new council elections

Subdistricts told to hold new council elections

JAKARTA (JP): In the wake of the decision to revoke all
nominations for new subdistrict councils, Governor Sutiyoso
called on the community on Saturday to ensure that new elections
were held in accordance with prevailing regulations.

"I also urge officials in all subdistricts to disseminate
information regarding the process to avoid irregularities,"
Sutiyoso said on the sidelines of a ceremony marking the planting
of 1,000 trees in the National Monument park.

The city administration and City Council decided on Friday to
postpone the establishment of subdistrict councils, saying that
much of the electoral process of the nominees for the new body
was flawed.

Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi
revealed that several nominees had been chosen even before
guidelines for the electoral process was issued.

"I call on residents to conduct new elections in their
respective subdistricts," Kahfi said during a hearing with City
Council Commission A for administrative affairs.

Many subdistricts in the capital have already submitted the
names of their candidates, while a new gubernatorial decree which
stipulates guidance for elections was only issued on Jan. 19.

Subdistrict councils are new institutions designed to empower
people at the grassroots level to participate in the development
of their own communities, as well as to control the activities of
their subdistrict administration.

The city administration initially set Jan. 31 as the deadline
for the establishment of the councils.

"We will announce a new schedule soon, meanwhile our officials
will focus on intensifying information dissemination on the
substance and electoral process of subdistrict councils to the
community," the deputy governor remarked.

Residents have complained that they were given too little time
to select suitable candidates which then allegedly led to various
irregularities in the establishment of subdistrict councils.

Most neighborhood communities said they only received the
order to choose their candidates on Monday and that subdistrict
chiefs wanted the candidates' names submitted by Wednesday.

According to reports, all of the 393 administrative units (RW)
in Central Jakarta had nominated candidates and planned to
inaugurate them on Saturday.

In South Jakarta, at least 447 from 573 units had submitted
the names of their representatives, while in West Jakarta 423
from 564 units had chosen their candidates. In North Jakarta, 280
from 400 units had selected their candidates.

Commission A chairman Binsar Tambunan said the electoral
process of the candidates was considered flawed as it was not
conducted in accordance with the guidelines.

"We must uphold regulations ... The city administration must
reelect representatives for subdistrict councils to show its good
intention to the community," Binsar said.

Another councilor, Posman Siahaan of the Justice and Unity
Party (PKP), said the city administration must issue a new
circular to the city's five mayoralties informing residents about
the changes.

According to City Bylaw No. 5/2000 on the establishment of the
councils, a member of a subdistrict council serves a five-year
term. A council is to be made up of one representative from each
RW. Generally, one RW overseas 10 neighborhood communities.(07)