Children of retired servicemen pledge loyalty to Golkar<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of an association grouping children of
\nretired service personnel have pledged their allegiance to Golkar
\nand ordered all their members to vote for the ruling political
\ngroup next year's general election.<\/p>\n
\"It's clear that FKPPI's aspirations lie with Golkar,\" Bambang
\nTrihatmodjo, chairman of the Forum of Communication of Children
\nof Retired Service Personnel (FKPPI), told reporters at the
\nconclusion of the group's leadership meeting Friday night.<\/p>\n
Bambang, the second son of President Soeharto and chief
\nexecutive officer of the diversified Bimantara business group,
\nsaid all FKPPI members are obliged to vote for Golkar and that
\nthe organization will ensure they do, although the election is by
\nsecret ballot, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
Golkar, which is contesting the election next year against the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI), has won all the five general elections held since
\n1971, each time with landslide majorities.<\/p>\n
With the 1997 election approaching, many organizations have
\ndeclared their support for Golkar.<\/p>\n
Last week, the influential Corps of Civil Servants (KORPRI),
\nordered its six million members to cast their votes for Golkar.
\nThe previous month, Pemuda Pancasila, a powerful youth
\norganization, also pledged its allegiance to the dominant
\npolitical group.<\/p>\n
Under Bambang's leadership, FKPPI has become even more
\ninfluential within Golkar, and many of its leaders have been
\nrecruited as candidates to represent Golkar in next year's
\nelections.<\/p>\n
On Friday night, Bambang was flanked by other executives of
\nthe FKPPI central board, including Secretary-General Indra
\nBambang Oetoyo, Yapto Soeryosoemarno, Didiet Haryadi, Ralie
\nSiregar, Chairul Azwar and Pontjo Sutowo during the meeting with
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
Indra said FKPPI would not tolerate any of its members joining
\neither PPP or PDI.<\/p>\n
\"Those who join the political parties will have their
\nmembership of FKPPI rescinded,\" Indra said. \"It wouldn't look
\nright if I serve for Golkar and there are others in FKPPI who
\nserve PPP or PDI,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Both Indra and Bambang currently serve on Golkar's central
\nexecutive board.<\/p>\n
Vote for Golkar<\/p>\n
A final declaration read at the end of the FKPPI leadership
\nmeeting appealed to all members and cadres to vote for Golkar to
\nensure that the national leadership remains in the hands of the
\nNew Order.<\/p>\n
The New Order refers to the administrations of President
\nSoeharto since 1967 and is used to distinguish it from the Old
\nOrder of President Sukarno.<\/p>\n
\"Success in the 1997 election will guarantee the existence of
\nthe unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia,\" according to the
\ndeclaration read by Chamsiah B. Paliudju, chairperson of the
\nCentral Sulawesi Chapter and wife of the province's governor.<\/p>\n
The statement denounced \"antiestablishment\" forces which use
\ndemocracy, human rights and environmental issues as pretexts to
\nfurther their goals and to justify their \"undemocratic,
\nunconstitutional and illegal acts.\"<\/p>\n
\"They work by setting one group against another, by agitating
\npeople to become antigovernment and by undermining the unity and
\ncohesion of the nation,\" according to the statement.<\/p>\n
FKPPI also urged the government to confer the title of
\n\"National Heroine\" on the late first lady, Mrs. Fatimah Siti
\nHartinah Soeharto, on the occasion of Hero's Day on Nov. 10.
\n(emb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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