Thousands rally to thwart reelection of Sutiyoso
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In a last minute attempt to foil governor Sutiyoso's nomination in the gubernatorial election on Wednesday, thousands of people from various groups - some brought along two cows with them - packed the City Council building on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta on Monday.
Arriving in dozens of minibuses bajaj and three-wheeled taxis, the protesters caused massive congestion on Jl. MH Thamrin, which is connected to Jl. Kebon Sirih.
They came from, among others, the Defender of Islam Front (FPI), the Grass Root Community of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (KABKB PDI Perjuangan), the Betawi University Students Front (FMB), the University Students and Urban Community Action Network (JAMAK), the Jakarta Community Awakening Alliance (AKMJ) and the University Students Executive Body (BEM) from several universities.
The protesters, especially those from PDI Perjuangan, said that Sutiyoso was not eligible as a candidate as he had been declared a suspect in the July 27, 1996 fatal attack on PDI headquarters.
Sutiyoso, however, won full support from the party after chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri instructed councillors from her party to secure Sutiyoso's second tenure.
Most of the demonstrators also said Sutiyoso had failed in alleviating poverty through his policy to evict informal workers such as street vendors and becak (pedicab) drivers.
FPI members said Sutiyoso also had failed to cleanse rampant illegal gambling and other vice activities.
"The next governor must have the guts to close all gambling dens in the city no matter what happens. The elected governor must also close all nightspots on Islamic holidays," it said in a a statement, proposing a total of 95 days including Fridays.
FPI also brought along two cows symbolizing the possible "cowtrading" practices among councillors and candidates.
Before leaving the building, the protesters burned Sutiyoso's effigy to underline their demands.
Sutiyoso, who is paired with current City Secretary Fauzi Bowo as vice governor candidate, is also supported by Golkar Party.
Despite the strong opposition, Sutiyoso's had his own supporters, including a group of ulemas who urged councillors to reelect him.
Lead by Syafii Hadzami, they met several councillors such as Totok Ismunandar and Ishak Iskandar of PDI Perjuangan and Syarif Zulkarnain and Ridlo Kurniawan of the United Development Party (PPP) and Muhammad Banang of the United Party (PP) factions.
Syafii is also the father of Chudlory Syafii, one of three deputy City Council speakers from the PPP faction.
Earlier in the morning, another maneuver to gain public support for Sutiyoso took place when an unknown newspaper which calls itself Swara Reformasi Indonesia named him Indonesia's most popular governor and newsmaker of 2002.
The award was presented in a huge certificate 4.75 meters by 5.07 meters, earning it a place in the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI).
In a separate development, the election committee decided that the councillors would have to write down candidate names in a style stipulated by a City Council decree in such a manner as to avoid the possibility of money politics practices.
The voters should write down the names exactly as printed in the list, otherwise, the ballots would be declared void.
Earlier, councillors opposing Sutiyoso's renomination feared that writing down candidates' names would open the way to further control their votes compared to crossing or ticking the ballot paper.
Meanwhile, security authorities will deploy 1,600 officers to safeguard the election and protect the councillors from being terrorized.
"The officers are taken from various City Police and City Military Command units," City Police spokesman Sr. Cmdr. Anton Bachrul Alam said.
Anton predicted that the mass would reach its peak after the plenary meeting with an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people storming the streets.