The swearing-in ceremony of the Jakarta City Council speaker and

The swearing-in ceremony of the Jakarta City Council speaker and
two deputies on Monday was marked by a wave of protests alleging
money politics had tarnished the Sept. 17 election for the post.

About 500 protesters from the Committee Against Money Politics
demanded the swearing-in be suspended until allegations of
bribery and money politics were disproven.

"We urge the authorities to send those guilty of bribing
councillors in the election to jail," protest coordinator Achmad
Nur said.

Councillor Ade Surapriatna of the Golkar Party faction was
installed as the council speaker on Monday with Achmad Heryawan
of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction and Ilal Ferhard of
the Democratic Party faction as his deputies.

The ceremony was presided over by Jakarta High Court chairman
Ben Suhendarsyah. The ceremony ran smoothly under tight security
provided by members of the Central Jakarta Police and City Public
Order Agency.

Nur said recent media reports showed allegations of money
politics in the election had substance. Two councillors from the
Democratic Party faction have reportedly returned money they
received during the election.

Heryawan lost to Ade in the election although the PKS, which
has 18 seats in the council, won support from the Democratic
Party, which has 16 seats. The Democrats have admitted some of
their councillors had "betrayed" the coalition by casting their
votes for Ade instead of Heryawan.

Another group of protesters from the Greater Jakarta Student
Executive Body (BEM) suspected there had been bribery in the
election.

"We have learned from graft cases involving councillors in
other provinces nationwide that such corrupt practices are
common," protest coordinator Suma said.

The students asked several councillors to sign a written
agreement they would stay away from money politics; defend the
poor from evictions and help create more jobs during their five-
year terms.

Meanwhile, Ade denied allegations he had been involved in
money politics. "There has been no money politics. Such
allegations are slanderous. Prove it," he said after the
ceremony.