West Java has first civilian leaders
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung
West Java made history on Friday by electing a governor and deputy governor who are both civilians.
Danny Setiawan a bureaucrat in the West Java and Banten administration was sworn in as governor for the 2003-2008 period, replacing R. Nuriana, an retired Army major general who has led the province for a decade. Nu'man Abdul Hakim, a legislator of the United Democratic Party (PPP), was installed as deputy governor.
Both were sworn in by home minister Hari Sabarno representing President Megawati Soekarnoputri, at the West Java provincial legislative building in the city on Friday. Also attending the ceremony were outgoing governor R. Nuriana and a number of Golkar and PPP legislators from Jakarta.
Nuriana's term of office was extended following the delay of the installation of the new governor previously scheduled for June 8, the same day Nuriana's second term of office ended.
Danny and Nu'man who were nominated by the Golkar Party and PPP factions won the gubernatorial election held on May 22, defeating Tayo Tarmadi and Rudy Harsa Tanaya nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and National Awakening Party (PKB).
PDI Perjuangan and PKB constitute two major factions at the provincial legislative council.
Megawati, also chairwoman of PDI Perjuangan, supported Tayo's candidacy. Tayo is the former chief of the Siliwangi Military Command overseeing West Java.
Provincial legislature chairman Eka Santosa hailed the recent gubernatorial election as the first-ever democratic election that resulted in the election of a civilian governor and deputy governor, saying that the province was entering a new era since it would be led by a nonmilitary man.
The province has been governed by the military since former president Soeharto came to power.
Danny, former secretary to the provincial administration, started his career as head of the Lebak district in Banten in 1970s. He later served as secretary of the Lebak regency and had been entrusted to occupy strategic positions in the province before his appointment as secretary of the provincial administration in 2000.
Minister Hari asked Danny to work hard to improve people's welfare and accelerate economic development in the province, home to 36 million people of numerous ethnic and religions backgrounds.
"The new governor should be aware of West Java's strategic position as a buffer for the capital of Jakarta. You must be able to make anticipate problems emerging in the province that may spread to Jakarta," he said.
He also asked the new governor to revamp the province's bureaucracy to make his administration efficient and effective.