Indra Harsaputra, Surabaya – The five pairs of candidates contesting the upcoming East Java gubernatorial elections have followed in the government's footsteps by not addressing the impacts of the Sidoarjo mudflow disaster.
During a campaigning session at the East Java Legislative Council on Monday, none of the five attending pairs touched on the issue during each of their 25-minute allocations in which they stated their claims for leadership.
The five pairs were: Khofifah Indar Parawansa-Mudjiono (backed by the United Development Party), Achmadi-Suhartono (the National Awakening Party), Soekarwo-Saifulah Yusuf (the National Mandate Party), Soetjipto-Ridwan Hisjam (the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle) and Soenaryo-Ali Maschan Moesa (Golkar Party).
The candidates mainly emphasized solutions for poverty, education, empowerment of villagers and farmers and the environment.
When asked about the mudflow, Soekarwo said addressing the mudflow disaster was part of his agenda as a candidate, but that he had not had enough time to speak about it.
Suparto Wijoyo, an environment observer at Surabaya-based Airlangga University, said Monday the candidates' failure to discuss the issue was similar to that of the central government's. "In reality the disaster has caused formidable losses for those living nearby," Suparto said after the session.
He said the winner of the election would inherit the power to settle any issue in the region, including the mudflow disaster, as defined by the law on regional autonomy.
"Even at present, any decision on how to handle the mudflow issue is in the hands of the central government, but the governor as a regional leader still is entitled to his own judgment," he said.
Pitanto, a disaster evacuee, said at least 600 mudflow victims temporarily living at Pasar Baru market would not exercise their right to vote at the election, scheduled for July 23, 2008.
Even though the Ministry of Home Affairs banned regional leaders from taking part in campaign activities, Surabaya Mayor Bambang Dwi Hartono insisted on endorsing the Sutjipto and Ridwan Hisjam pair.
The ban is authorized under a decree signed by Regional Autonomy Director General of the Home Affairs Ministry S. Situmorang on July 4, 2008.
However, Bambang sent a letter to the Domestic Affairs Ministry requesting leave so he could take part in the campaign.
"I just want to become a campaigner for the Sutjipto-Ridwan," he said. "I will not use state facilities in my campaign activities, such as official cars or other attributes," he added.
Bambang left his post last Sunday, the first official day of the campaign period, and has entrusted his duties to deputy mayor Arif Affandi.
The East Java Police have deployed 17,000 officers throughout the province for the campaigning period.
"We've briefed our subordinates to help people who are in trouble to exercise their right to vote, especially the disabled and the blind ones," East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Herman S. Sumawiredja said.