Tangerang councillors support speaker Gian Sugiharsono

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)