http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnews.asp?fileid=20080127.A01&irec=0
Parties play ethnic card in N. Sumatra election National News - Sunday, January 27, 2008 Apridi Gunawan and Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Medan, Jakarta North Sumatra will this year hold its first direct gubernatorial election, and political parties have nominated candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds. Candidates of Javanese descent are prominent, reflecting the origin of a large number of migrants in the province. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said it had nominated Maj. Gen. (ret.) Tri Tamtomo (not Triand Benny Pasaribu as reported on Saturday) and his running mate Benny Pasaribu because they had the qualifications to maintain political and economic stability and pluralism in the province. Maruarar Sirait, a member of PDI Perjuangan's executive board, said the nomination of Tri-Benny had to do not only with their ethnicity, but also their qualifications and abilities. "It is not by accident the choice fell on Tri, because besides being of Javanese descent, he is also a former chief of the Bukit Barisan Military Command overseeing the province, West Sumatra, Riau and West Kalimantan and has paid great attention to agriculture issues," he told The Jakarta Post here Saturday. Under the leadership of Tri and Benny, he said, the province would be able to push economic growth above the current 7 percent. Benny was considered the most suitable running mate for Tri because he is an economist and a Batak from North Sumatra. "Both are expected to be vote-getters for all ethnic groups in the province and have the strong leadership necessary to maintain political and economic stability and security, especially along the Malacca Strait," said Maruarar. Tri and Benny would seem to be the front-runners for the race to lead this province of 12 million, based on the results of local party meetings and polls. PDI Perjuangan is the second largest party in the provincial legislative council, with 13 of 80 seats. The Golkar Party, the biggest faction in the council with 19 seats, has nominated Ali Umri and his running mate Maratua Simanjuntak. Ali is a popular figure not only because of his current position as Binjay regent, but also because of his previous job as chairman of the Indonesian Youth Committee in the province. Fachri Hamzah, an official with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said PKS and 11 other parties had nominated the pair of Syamsul Arifin and Gatot Pudjonugroho to represent the major Melayu and Javanese ethnic groups in North Sumatra. "Both are also acceptable and salable among the Chinese, Minangkabau, Batak and Aceh ethnic groups, which is why they are dubbed dua sejoli, a local term for a complementary couple," he said. The 11 other parties in the coalition include the United Development Party (PPP) and Crescent Star Party. A coalition of the Democratic Party (PD), National Mandate Party (PAN) and Reform Star Party (PBR) nominated Abdul Wahab Dalimunthe and Raden Syarfi'i, of Melayu and Javanese descent, respectively. Another coalition of small parties with no seats in the provincial legislative council has nominated Edison Siahaan and Suherdi.
