Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SURABAYA48
2008-04-18 09:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Surabaya
Cable title:
NORTH MALUKU: ELECTION DECISION FINALLY IN SIGHT; POPULATION
how-toVZCZCXRO1529 RR RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJS #0048 1090952 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 180952Z APR 08 FM AMCONSUL SURABAYA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0194 RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0181 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0099 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0101 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHJS/AMCONSUL SURABAYA 0199
UNCLAS SURABAYA 000048
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, INR/EAP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON ENRG ID
SUBJECT: NORTH MALUKU: ELECTION DECISION FINALLY IN SIGHT; POPULATION
MORE CONCERNED WITH RISING KEROSENE PRICES
REF: A. Surabaya 20 and previous (North Maluku Governor's Race)
B. Surabaya 43 (Gas Conversion Program)
This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.
UNCLAS SURABAYA 000048
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, INR/EAP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON ENRG ID
SUBJECT: NORTH MALUKU: ELECTION DECISION FINALLY IN SIGHT; POPULATION
MORE CONCERNED WITH RISING KEROSENE PRICES
REF: A. Surabaya 20 and previous (North Maluku Governor's Race)
B. Surabaya 43 (Gas Conversion Program)
This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.
1. (SBU) After months of bureaucratic debate between provincial
election officials and the central government and contradictory
court decisions, it appears that North Maluku will soon swear in
a new governor. At the formal request of the Ministry of Home
Affairs, the North Maluku parliament held a plenary meeting
April 16 to determine the next governor. With 20 of 35 members
in attendance, the plenary announced that Abdul Gafur and
Abdurahim Fabanyo -- supported by Golkar, United Democratic
Nationhood Party (PDK),and National Mandate Party (PAN) -- were
the legitimate winners of the contested November 2007 elections.
Hundreds of supporters of incumbent Thaib Armaiyan and Gani
Kasuba protested the decision in front of the governor's office.
Seven protestors were slightly injured as police dispersed the
protestors. In general, North Maluku has remained relatively
calm during the lengthy election process (ref a),with small,
usually non-violent demonstrations by supporters of both sides.
2. (SBU) According to local contacts, the Minister of Home
Affairs and National Police Chief made a brief visit to Ternate
on April 18 to meet with the interim Governor Timbul Pukianto,
head of the North Maluku Attorney's Office, Provincial Police
Chief, Maluku Military Commander, Ternate Military Commander,
and local religious and youth leaders. Alwy Sagarf, Director of
local station Radio Diahi, told ConGen Surabaya the two-hour
visit at the airport VIP lounge demonstrated that the central
government was not serious about resolving local problems.
"They are wasting state money."
Kerosene Prices Double
--------------
3. (SBU) Alwy Sagarf commented to ConGen Surabaya that the
majority were fed up with the election dispute and more focused
on how to pay for food, kerosene, and LPG. North Maluku is one
of Indonesia's poorest provinces, ranking 27 out of 33 on the
Human Development Index. In the past month, the price of
kerosene (a staple for most families) has doubled from Rp
2,500/litre (USD 0.27) to Rp. 5,000/litre (USD 0.55) and lines
are growing as supplies diminish. Alwy Sagarf explained that
shortages were caused by national oil company Pertamina's
shipping delays from Balikpapan, Kalimantan, and Makassar, South
Sulawesi to Ternate. LPG is also in short supply and costs are
rising. The price of a 12-kg canister of LPG has reached Rp
138,000 (USD 15) and is expected to climb further. By contrast,
East Javanese residents pay Rp. 54,000 (USD 5.94) for 12 kgs.
(ref b). The government's gas conversion program is not yet
implemented in North Maluku.
MCCLELLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, INR/EAP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON ENRG ID
SUBJECT: NORTH MALUKU: ELECTION DECISION FINALLY IN SIGHT; POPULATION
MORE CONCERNED WITH RISING KEROSENE PRICES
REF: A. Surabaya 20 and previous (North Maluku Governor's Race)
B. Surabaya 43 (Gas Conversion Program)
This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.
1. (SBU) After months of bureaucratic debate between provincial
election officials and the central government and contradictory
court decisions, it appears that North Maluku will soon swear in
a new governor. At the formal request of the Ministry of Home
Affairs, the North Maluku parliament held a plenary meeting
April 16 to determine the next governor. With 20 of 35 members
in attendance, the plenary announced that Abdul Gafur and
Abdurahim Fabanyo -- supported by Golkar, United Democratic
Nationhood Party (PDK),and National Mandate Party (PAN) -- were
the legitimate winners of the contested November 2007 elections.
Hundreds of supporters of incumbent Thaib Armaiyan and Gani
Kasuba protested the decision in front of the governor's office.
Seven protestors were slightly injured as police dispersed the
protestors. In general, North Maluku has remained relatively
calm during the lengthy election process (ref a),with small,
usually non-violent demonstrations by supporters of both sides.
2. (SBU) According to local contacts, the Minister of Home
Affairs and National Police Chief made a brief visit to Ternate
on April 18 to meet with the interim Governor Timbul Pukianto,
head of the North Maluku Attorney's Office, Provincial Police
Chief, Maluku Military Commander, Ternate Military Commander,
and local religious and youth leaders. Alwy Sagarf, Director of
local station Radio Diahi, told ConGen Surabaya the two-hour
visit at the airport VIP lounge demonstrated that the central
government was not serious about resolving local problems.
"They are wasting state money."
Kerosene Prices Double
--------------
3. (SBU) Alwy Sagarf commented to ConGen Surabaya that the
majority were fed up with the election dispute and more focused
on how to pay for food, kerosene, and LPG. North Maluku is one
of Indonesia's poorest provinces, ranking 27 out of 33 on the
Human Development Index. In the past month, the price of
kerosene (a staple for most families) has doubled from Rp
2,500/litre (USD 0.27) to Rp. 5,000/litre (USD 0.55) and lines
are growing as supplies diminish. Alwy Sagarf explained that
shortages were caused by national oil company Pertamina's
shipping delays from Balikpapan, Kalimantan, and Makassar, South
Sulawesi to Ternate. LPG is also in short supply and costs are
rising. The price of a 12-kg canister of LPG has reached Rp
138,000 (USD 15) and is expected to climb further. By contrast,
East Javanese residents pay Rp. 54,000 (USD 5.94) for 12 kgs.
(ref b). The government's gas conversion program is not yet
implemented in North Maluku.
MCCLELLAND