This was no conference, let alone an extraordinary congress of regional government leaders. Eight regents and mayors had come to the editor’s office of Tempo, at Jalan Proklamasi in Central Jakarta, on Wednesday last week. Some were dressed in official attire, others wore jeans with their shirtsleeves rolled up to the elbows.

Andi Hatta Marakarma, Regent of East Luwu, South Sulawesi, arrived first. He was followed by Suyanto, Regent of Jomban