Tarmidi defies Megawati's order, enters race for Jakarta governorship
Tarmidi defies Megawati's order, enters race for Jakarta governorship
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
City chapter chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Tarmidi Suhardjo defied on Thursday
party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri's support for Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso at the next gubernatorial election.
"I'm ready to be 'slapped' by Megawati and kicked out of the
party. I would rather that happened than for me to betray my
grassroots supporters," said Tarmidi, who is also the city
council's deputy chairman.
He said that he had decided to continue to run as his party's
candidate for governor after seeing strong support from party
members before and after Megawati gave the green light to
Sutiyoso's candidacy.
He said PDIP's 15 city chapter executives would meet with the
party's central board on Friday evening to express their
continuing support for him, because he had been nominated the
party's gubernatorial candidate during their meeting two weeks
ago.
"We consider Sutiyoso's nomination just a suggestion that does
not necessarily have to be obeyed," said Tarmidi, who was named a
suspect by the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office in a case involving
controversial overseas trips last year dubbed Ancolgate.
Tarmidi revealed on Monday that he had met Megawati, who is
also the country's President, last week to seek her blessing.
Megawati told Tarmidi that the governorship should be handed to
Sutiyoso while she preferred Tarmidi to be a deputy governor.
Sutiyoso's nomination has courted controversy because the
former Jakarta Military Commander was believed to be involved in
a bloody attack on the party's headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro,
Central Jakarta on July 27, 1996.
At least 100 supporters of the party grouped under the
Association of July 27 Tragedy Victims staged a protest at the
council on Monday, calling Megawati a traitor for nominating
Sutiyoso.
At least five supporters were killed and dozens went missing
after the attack which was followed by a massive riot in the
area.
Sutiyoso and several military, police officers were declared
suspects in the tragedy by the National Police in November two
years ago.
On Thursday, several student organizations, including the
Indonesian Islamic Youth Movement (PMII) and the Youth Action
Committee for Democracy (Kampud), rejected Sutiyoso's nomination.
They urged Megawati, Vice President and chairman of the United
Development Party (PPP) Hamzah Haz who also supported Sutiyoso,
to revoke their nomination, saying that it was against democracy.
Sutiyoso was seemed to get real challengers in the election
which was scheduled on Sept. 17.
Besides Tarmidi, the incumbent Governor of West Nusa Tenggara,
Harun Alrasyid, has also received strong support. His son, Zakcky
Zuliansyah, took a form for his father's gubernatorial candidacy
to the council on Thursday.
"My father has secured approval from the West Nusa Tenggara
legislative body and will soon seek approval from the President,"
Zacky told reporters.
Harun, who was Jakarta's former deputy governor for
development affairs, was reportedly supported by the former
ruling Golkar Party, which has eight seats in the council, and
some councillors from the National Mandate Party (PAN), which has
13 seats in the council.
The election will be determined by a total of 85 members of
the city council, which has 30 councillors from the largest
party, PDI Perjuangan, 13 from PAN, 12 from PPP, and nine from
the Indonesian Military (TNI)/Police.