Sutiyoso ready to go if new govt wants him out
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)