Young people reject Sutiyoso

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Over a hundred young supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the National Mandate Party (PAN) united on Thursday to reject the nomination of City Governor Sutiyoso in the upcoming gubernatorial election.

At their rally held at the City Council building, PDI Perjuangan supporters rejected Sutiyoso, who was Jakarta's former military commander, for his alleged involvement in the bloody attack on their party's headquarters on July 27, 1996.

"We want to remind our party chairwoman (President Megawati Soekarnoputri) that Sutiyoso is still a suspect in the July 27 tragedy," said the supporters' spokesman, Thomas Resmol, who added that he, along with 123 of his friends, had been in jail for three months after the attack.

At least five people were killed after the attack which was followed by riots in areas around the headquarters located on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta.

Sutiyoso earlier claimed the Indonesian Military (TNI) had settled its dispute with PDI Perjuangan over the bloody tragedy.

While the protesters from PDI Perjuangan unfurled posters and banners, dozens of members of the PAN Youth Movement (BMPAN) carried a garland of flowers as a symbol of condolence for Sutiyoso's poor administration.

They handed over the garland of flowers to the council's deputy chairmen, M. Suwardi and Chudlary Syafei Hadzami, who met them.

"We reject Sutiyoso for his poor performance during his five year term," said BMPAN's chairman, Syamsuddin.

Syamsuddin claimed Sutiyoso had not been able to handle several problems in the city, including the recent floods, security problems, the local economy and gambling.

The two protesting groups arrived at different times.

After meeting with councillors, PAN supporters joined with PDI Perjuangan supporters at the council compound, publicly speaking out against Sutiyoso.

PDI Perjuangan is the largest faction in the 85-seat council with 30 seats, while PAN is the second largest with 13 seats.

PDI Perjuangan's central board decided to nominate Sutiyoso last week after Megawati told the party's councillors to choose Sutiyoso in the election, which will be held on Sept. 17.

The party's nomination generated controversy because its branches had proposed 11 gubernatorial candidates, which did not include Sutiyoso.