Youth activists want Tangerang mayor to quit

TANGERANG (JP): At least 75 youth activists visited the local council here to demand that Mayor Djakaria Machmud resign immediately from his current post.

Calling themselves the Tangerang Rescuers Forum (FPT), the youths told councillors on Monday that Djakaria had visibly failed to carry out his duties.

The group spokesman T.B. Mahdi Ardiansyah cited the mayor's failure to curb the levy of illegal fees on the issue of identity cards as an example of his incompetence.

Payments required to obtain an ID card in the mayoralty are now Rp 75,000 per card, 10 times higher than the official rate of Rp 7,500, he said.

He also pointed to the Tangerang forest park, developed to provide a recreation site for families in the heart of the municipality, but which has become notorious for prostitution, crime and dating teenagers, Ardiansyah explained.

"The city forest park has provided more bad things than good things," he said.

The group insisted councillors sign a statement promising that they would not support any attempt by Djakaria to stand for a second term in office later this month.

After listening to the youths' requests, councillors -- led by speaker Dedy Moeljono -- requested permission to retire to hold an internal discussion so that they could come to a consensual agreement.

The youths finally agreed to give them 15 minutes.

Later, Dedy and fellow councillors Rusman Umar and Syafruddin -- respectively from the Armed forces, Golkar and United Development Party factions -- came out to meet the protesters again.

The councillors claimed that Djakaria's term had come to an end earlier that day and he had submitted his resignation letter six months previously, as required by the law.

Dedy did not reveal whether or not Djakaria had stated an intention to stand for reelection in the letter.

He announced that the council would begin an investigation into the allegations leveled at Djakaria by the protesters, but he and his fellow councillors refused to sign the protesters' statement, arguing that it was unconstitutional.

However, group leader Ahdiansyah persisted with his demand, revealing at the same time his knowledge of rumors, rife in the town, that each council member had received "security fees" worth Rp 200 million from the mayor.

Ahdiansyah's remarks turned the councillors' faces red.

"That's slander. We did not receive any bribes. We don't want to sign the statement because it's unconstitutional," Rusman Umar said emotionally.

Meanwhile, mayoralty spokesman Harry Mulya Zein said that all charges associated with the issue of identity cards had been stopped as of Monday.

The service is now free, he said.

"We call on our officers in the districts and subdistricts to uphold the policy," Harry added.

Regarding the forest park, he said the mayoralty would continue their joint operation with local security forces in an attempt to improve the park's image.

"We are also waiting for a report on the alleged role of the mayor in corrupt, collusive and nepotistic practices which occurred during his term in office," Harry said.

The law requires that an outgoing mayor be examined by a special committee at the end of his or her term. (41/jun)