Teacher, farmer to contest gubernatorial race
Teacher, farmer to contest gubernatorial race
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java
Joining a list of known names, a Muslim teacher and a farmer in
West Java registered themselves to contest the gubernatorial
elections to replace outgoing R. Nuriana for the 2003-2008
period.
Erwan Saad, a Muslim teacher in Cililin, a remote village 40
kilometers south of Bandung, and Eka Surya, a successful farmer
in Bandung regency, handed in their candidacy files on Monday to
the gubernatorial election committee set up by the provincial
legislative council.
The two said they had dared to register themselves as
alternative candidates representing the needy, the oppressed and
the low-income people in the province.
"West Java people will never lose if they support me and I win
the gubernatorial election because I will take their side and
fight for the interests of farmers who are used to suffering
losses in land disputes with businessmen and the local
administration," Eka told The Jakarta Post.
He claimed to have 105,000 farmers and youths supporting his
candidacy.
Erwan and Eka were two of 21 figures who registered their
candidacy with the election committee on the first day of the 14-
day registration period that ends on March 7.
The remaining 19 were, among others, Indonesian Textile
Producers Association (API) chairman Lili Asdjudiredja, former
chief of the Army's Territorial Command Adang Ruhiatna, former
Bogor mayor Soedradjat, provincial legislative council member
Kurdi Moekri and the wife of former Bandung mayor Jundjunan,
Popon Jundjunan.
Kurdi said he would quit after his candidacy was officially
accepted by the election committee. He was supported in his bid
by his United Development Party (PPP) faction in the legislature.
Nuriana's term of office will expire on June 6 after leading
the province for two consecutive periods.
Three factions in the legislative council who have announced
their candidates have yet to register with the committee.
The local chapter of the National Awakening Party (PKB) will
name Tayo Tarmadi, former chief of the Siliwangi Military Command
overseeing the province and the local Justice Party (PK) will
nominate Ma'mur Hasanuddin.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan),
the biggest faction in the legislative council, has named Rudy
Harsa Tanaya, chairman of the party's local chapter, but has yet
to register him with the committee.
The Golkar Party and the Indonesian Military/National Police
factions have yet to announce the names of their candidates.
Election committee chairman Eka Santosa said the committee
would hand over the names of registrants to the provincial
legislature's six factions for selection.
"It depends on the factions on who they will nominate and
support in the gubernatorial elections whose date is to be set
later," he said.