The Jakarta Post, 19 April 2002
North Maluku students reject Sarundayang
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
An alliance of four North Maluku student associations in Yogyakarta urged President
Megawati Soekarnoputri to annul a presidential decree on the appointment of Sinyo
Harry Sarundayang, incumbent inspector general at the Ministry of Home Affairs, as
acting governor of the new province, to replace Muhyi Effendi.
"The presidential decree is an infringement of the Constitution and ignores the
existence of the North Maluku Legislative Council (DPRD)," said the alliance in a
four-page statement here on Wednesday.
The four were the Central Halmahera Students Association (PKPM-Halteng), the
North Maluku Muslim Association (KAUMMU), the Yogyakarta Caring Voice for
Halmahera and the Discussion Forum of North Maluku Students (FKMMU).
The students also protested against the President's decision not to accept the
election of Thaib Armayin as permanent governor and of Yamin Waisale as deputy
governor, both from the National Mandate Party, by the North Maluku legislature on
March 7, 2002. The gubernatorial election was held again after the central government
rejected the victory of Abdul Gafur in the first gubernatorial election on July 5, 2001.
The result of the first gubernatorial election was annulled because Gafur and several
legislators were allegedly involved in money politics. The investigation into the scandal
is still under way.
Yet, according to KAUMMU secretary Saleh Tjan, instead of approving the result of
the election, the President issued Presidential Decree No. 54/M 2002 on March 23 to
appoint Sarundayang as acting governor of North Maluku with a special assignment of
preparing a gubernatorial election for the 2002-2007 period.
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno did not swear in Sarundayang as acting
governor last week following increasing protests in North Maluku.
Despite the improved situation, North Maluku is still under a state of civil emergency
following the sectarian violence that rocked the province and Maluku in January, 1999.
The alliance of student associations, therefore, considered the decree as a violation of
Law No. 22/1999 on regional autonomy and Government Regulation No. 151/M 2002
on the election of regional head and vice head.
The students ruled out the central government's reasons for rejecting the result of the
second gubernatorial election, saying it was held in line with the Autonomy Law.
Saleh Tjan, spokesman for the alliance of the students associations, said the central
government should accept the election results because the election was held
democratically and was accepted by most factions in the provincial legislative council.
"Otherwise, we will take legal action against the President at the State Administrative
Court," Saleh said.
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