Sutiyoso ready to go if new govt wants him out

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said on Thursday he was ready to vacate his position if city residents and a new government no longer believed in his leadership.

Sutiyoso noted that the governorship was a position entrusted by the public. "So, if the people consider me incapable of leading the city, I will bow to their will. I understand that, as a human being, I have many shortcomings.

"But I am also ready to continue to hold the position if people still trust me," he said at City Hall.

Sutiyoso commented that serving as a city leader was particularly difficult today due to complicated problems resulting from the prolonged economic crisis.

His term of office was originally through 2002.

Based on the city administration's preliminary vote count, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) ranks first in the city with 1,751,886 votes, followed by the United Development Party (PPP) (781,059), the National Mandate Party (PAN) (738,819) and Golkar Party (462,615).

A source at City Hall predicted PDI Perjuangan, which is led by Megawati Soekarnoputri, would gain 31 out of 85 seats on the City Council. Nine nonelected seats are allocated members of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Public sentiment has swung toward PDI Perjuangan, widely considered to have been unfairly treated by the New Order regime of Soeharto. Particularly abhorrent to many was the forcible takeover of its Central Jakarta headquarters on July 27, 1997, with Soeharto's government backing the breakaway Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Sutiyoso was the Jakarta military commander, in control of troop deployments throughout the city, when the incident occurred. The National Commission on Human Rights said five people died, 149 were injured and 23 remain missing.

Commenting on PDI Perjuangan's strong results so far, Sutiyoso said whoever won the elections should prepare to lead.

"There's no reason for me to oppose the result. I believe that the polls have been managed in a just and fair manner. That's why people also should accept (the result)."

Sutiyoso added he would be proud if the election process ran smoothly from beginning to end. (ind)