Tangerang councillors support speaker Gian Sugiharsono

TANGERANG (JP): After being fired in a plenary session last month, Tangerang Council Speaker Gian Sugiharsono from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) returned to his seat this week after strong support from other legislators.

The support, which came on Monday morning at a council meeting, was from the Golkar Party faction, the National Mandate Party faction (PAN), the Indonesian Military/Police faction and 11 legislators from PDI Perjuangan.

"Golkar still acknowledges (the validity) of the council spokesman because it is in accordance with the law and regulations," legislator Krisna Gunata from the Golkar party said at the meeting.

Golkar Party, PDI Perjuangan and the United Development Party (PPP) had earlier launched a no confidence vote against Gian over his April 24 decision to give the go-ahead to a project involving 72 hectares of land in Koang Jaya subdistrict without following council guidelines.

Three days later, hundreds of people claiming themselves to be local members of the PDI Perjuangan ran amok at the building, wounding PDI Perjuangan faction chairman Teddy Subrata and a local resident in the process.

The mob demanded the resignation of four Perjuangan councillors, who they said had betrayed their party by voting for a no confidence motion against Gian.

The mob also vandalized windows and other parts of the council building.

Based on a preliminary investigation, local police named Gian as the mastermind behind the attack. It was this that later led to his dismissal from the council.

Gian refused to meet the police summons for questioning, saying that the allegations against him were baseless. He alleged the police had tortured four PDI Perjuangan cadres so they would name him as a suspect.

Legislators at the council dismissed Gian and his four deputies on May 8.

Speaking to reporters after Monday's meeting, Gian said that he was "touched by their (the councillors') big hearts."

He said that the council would quickly hold a coordinating meeting to continue with its agenda.

"Let bygones be bygones, let us now hold hands for the people," Gian said.

The meeting, however, was not attended by PPP faction chairman Supendi Hasyim, Madani faction chairman Syaiful Saoen and PDI Perjuangan's Teddy.

The PDI Perjuangan and the PPP factions have yet to withdraw their motion of no confidence against Gian.(41/08)