Thousands rally to thwart reelection of Sutiyoso

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.