Sutiyoso to seek peace with opponents

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Newly elected Jakarta Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo said that he and Governor Sutiyoso would strive for reconciliation with those who opposed their election in an effort to maximize the performance of the city administration in the future.

"As a human being I will make silaturrahim (reconciliation) with both those who supported and those who rejected us," Fauzi, who is serving City Secretary, said on Friday.

He said that those who would be approached included councillors and elements among the public at large who have recently criticized the results of the gubernatorial election.

However, he realized that the efforts to bring about reconciliation might not be accepted by the parties involved, saying that he would continue the administration with or without their support.

"In a democratic situation, it's okay if they still disagree with us. As there were no shortcomings, it makes me proud to have participated in a democratic election," Fauzi said.

Members of the public, non-governmental organizations and some councillors have deplored the results of the electoral process which was marked by many irregularities and allegations of money politics.

Separately, councillor Abdul Aziz Matnur rejected any possibility of reconciliation with Sutiyoso-Fauzi Bowo before the alleged regularities were clarified.

"Without an honest clarification on the irregularities, such as money politics, during the election, it will be impossible to reconcile with them," Aziz of the Justice Party told The Jakarta Post.

He said his party would remain critical of the city administration since the election of Sutiyoso and Fauzi Bowo was based on a dishonest process.

The Justice Party and the National Mandate Party are still refusing the accept the result of the election, which was held last Wednesday, due to the irregularities.

Besides alleged money politics, the irregularities included the marking of the ballot papers that were cast in support of Sutiyoso.

At least three councillors from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Audi I.Z. Tambunan, Lambertus Gainadara and Jannes Pardosi, have admitted that they marked their ballots.

"There were 27 councillors from PDI Perjuangan who marked their ballot papers in support of Sutiyoso," Audi told reporters on Friday.

The audaciousness of the councillors in admitting that they had marked their ballots is viewed as an indication that they have not been fully paid. Rumors have it that the full payment is to be made two months after the election.

The party, which is chaired by President Megawati Soekarnoputri, has 30 councillors on the City Council. The three councillors who did not vote for Sutiyoso were Tarmidi Suhardjo, Ugiek Sugihardjo and Dadang Hamdani.

Another sign of irregularities was a surprise confession by failed gubernatorial candidate Mahfudz Djaelani last Friday. Mahfudz admitted to having paid Rp 200 million to 40 councillors as a down payment on a total Rp 2 billion if the councillors elected him and his running mate.

Mahfudz, who only secured three votes, later retracted his statement. He was questioned by Jakarta Police on Thursday, when he claimed that the money had been was used to invite the councillors for dinners over the last years ago.

Several non-governmental and student organizations are soon to file a citizens' suit in the district court, demanding the annulment of the election result due to the irregularities.