Adisti Sukma Sawitri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) admitted on Sunday that senior members had offered to support several generals as candidates for deputy governor in return for money.

"We know who were playing money games with these generals but we will not name them until the law can prove the case," Jakarta chapter executive Sigit Widiarto told reporters in Utan Kayu, East Jakarta.

He said he would urge the party's central board to resolve the problem in order to avoid similar problems in future direct elections in other regions.

The Regional Autonomy Law requires election candidates to have the support of political parties. Parties often try to sell "tickets" to provide a candidate with an entry to an election.

Until recently, few candidates have spoken about the process, but a recent series of rows and broken promises has resulted in some light being shed.

Legislator Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, a candidate who failed to get a place in the election, said he was dumped as a candidate in favor of someone who was able to provide more money.

A brawl in front of the PDI-P Jakarta office in Tebet, South Jakarta, last week revealed the underbelly of candidate selection in the election.

Four men got into a fight with a larger group of people in front of the office. One of the four was injured in the clash and is being treated at Mitra Hospital in South Jakarta.

The four men were later identified as having been sent by ex-deputy governor hopeful Maj. Gen. (ret.) Slamet Kirbiantoro to demand the return of money he had paid to a party executive to ensure his place on the ballot.

The two-star general claimed that he had given Rp 1.5 billion (US$163,934) to several parties during the nomination process to select Fauzi's running mate.

Meanwhile, another two-star general, Djasri Marin, claimed that he had spent Rp 2 billion on the PDI-P and the United Development Party (PPP).

He said that Fauzi's Jakarta Coalition of 13 political parties had required him to spread the money across several parties to ensure wide support.

Both generals, however, were dropped when Fauzi chose Maj. Gen. Prijanto, a former territorial assistant to Army Chief of Staff Djoko Santoso.

Those who were close to Fauzi said that he hand-picked his running-mate himself to avoid clashes in the coalition by selecting a name that was already supported by particular political parties.

Slamet was a strong candidate from the PDI-P at that time, while Djasri was the Golkar Party's favorite.

Another PDI-P member, Benni Sinaga, said that the party's central board should settle the problem as soon as possible for the sake of the party. "We want the central board to directly resolve this problem. We don't want to play dirty in any election," he said.

Party secretary general Pramono Anung could not be reached for comment.

Separately, PPP secretary general Irgan Chairul Mahfiz said that the party would hold an emergency meeting this week to discuss the issue. He also urged the public to come forward with the names of party members who had received money from failed candidates.