Sutiyoso renomination encounters some objections

Sutiyoso renomination encounters some objections

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City Governor Sutiyoso might announce his intention to join
the next gubernatorial election in October, in effect eating his
own words that he would not seek reelection.

But his nomination for a second five-year term has already
been opposed to by some Jakartans including those ignorant of the
coming election.

Tongap Siahaan, a public minivan driver serving the Kampung
Melayu-Senen route, said on Saturday that Sutiyoso must not be
reelected due to his failure in handling the massive floods that
hit the capital for around three weeks since Jan. 28.

"He should not run for governor. He should allow other people
to lead the city," said Tongap, whose rented house in Cawang
area, East Jakarta, was inundated by the floods.

Tongap also criticized Sutiyoso's administration that has
failed to manage the city transportation system and only created
more traffic jams.

Ali, a student at a private university, concurred, saying that
the administration had not achieved anything during Sutiyoso's
tenure.

"Traffic jams, crowds of street vendors and mass brawls among
residents all indicate that the governor has no leadership
skill," said Ali, a resident of Kemayoran area, Central Jakarta.

He hoped the city would be led by a younger governor with
bold, brilliant and, possibly controversial ideas to face the
city's problems, like former Governor Ali Sadikin.

He said only Ali Sadikin with all his controversial policies
was still acknowledged as the "true" city governor until now.

Ali Sadikin, who served as governor in the 1970s, was known
for permitting gambling dens to operate as they were big
taxpayers for the city. Ignoring critics, he said the taxes could
finance the development of public facilities.

Today, gambling is illegal but many gambling dens still
operate with the backing of certain military and police officers.

Ali also set up the Kramat Tunggak prostitute rehabilitation
complex in Jakarta in the 1970s but it was closed by Sutiyoso in
1999 amid protests from neighboring communities.

Despite the opposition, not all people were aware of the
October election. Some did not even care.

"I don't care if Sutiyoso is reelected. It's more important
for people to do their jobs easily," said Yanto, an Ojek
(motorcycle taxi) driver in Tanah Abang area, Central Jakarta.

He wished the next governor -- whether from a military or
civilian background -- could bring peace and create more job
opportunities, especially for the ordinary people.

Since Ali Sadikin, all Jakarta governors have had a military
background including Sutiyoso who formerly was Jakarta Military
Commander.

Several non-governmental organizations have proposed that the
next city governor should not be from the military, fearing that
otherwise he would betray the reform agenda and democratization
process.

Four candidates -- Jakarta city secretary Fauzi Bowo, West
Nusa Tenggara Governor Harun Alrasyid, State Intelligence Agency
(BIN) chief Lt. Gen. (ret) A.M. Hendropriyono and Udayana
Military Commander Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri -- were named as strong
contestants in the election.

Although the public and NGOs have rejected candidates with a
military background, the election however, would be determined by
the 85 members of the City Council.

The deciding vote in the election would mostly come from 30
councillors of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and 13
councillors each from the United Development Party and the
National Mandate Party.

With the current quality of the councillors, it would be
unlikely that the voices of the public and NGOs would be heard.