Young people reject Sutiyoso

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.