INAUGURATED AS NEW BALI GOVERNOR

Pastika & Puspayoga Inaugurated as New Bali Governor & Vice Govenor

Made Mangku Pastika and Anak Agung Ngurah Puspayoga have officially become Bali's new governor and vice governor to lead the island province for the next five years. The pair were installed Thursday by Home Minister Mardiyanto in a special plenary of the Bali Legislative Council in Denpasar.

"You have been chosen in the first direct election ever conducted in the province. Therefore, you have the legitimacy to run the upcoming administration more effectively," Mardiyanto said in his inauguration speech. "And in doing your duties, keep one thing in mind that from now on, the two of you no longer belong to a particular political party but to all Balinese. So you must act on behalf of all the Balinese."

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) supported the pair who replaced Dewa Made Beratha and IGN Kesuma Kelakan who was in office since 2003. Mardiyanto said that central government expected that newly appointed leaders would apply transparency and accountability in running the administration, as this would illustrate the government's seriousness in promoting clean and effective local governance.

As many as 600 guests, ranging from local councilors to local and national figures, were present at the ceremony including Bali council Speaker Ida Bagus Putu Waisnawa, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo, Bali Police Chief Insp. Gen. Teuku Ashikin Husein and Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Hotmangaradja Pandjaitan.

Pastika was a three star police general before being nominated as a Bali gubernatorial candidate earlier this year. His last police position was executive director of the National Anti Narcotics Agency. Another landmark in his carreer was to lead the investigation team into the 2002 Bali bombing which killed 202 tourists, mostly foreigners, including 88 Australians.

(Source: The Jakarta Post 29 Aug 08)