Factional strife reflects Golkar's chaotic system'<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Factional strife within the dominant political
\norganization, Golkar, has escalated so much that it can no longer
\nhide it, political observers said yesterday.<\/p>\n
In separate interviews with The Jakarta Post, Riswandha Imawan
\nand Susilo Utomo said the bickering may have an adverse, albeit
\nsmall, impact on Golkar's showing in next year's general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
\"The factional conflicts reflect the chaotic system within
\nGolkar,\" said Riswandha, a political scholar from Yogyakarta's
\nGadjah Mada University.<\/p>\n
At present it is difficult to see which alliance or alliances
\ncontrol Golkar because its system is closed, he said.<\/p>\n
Internal conflict has shaken MKGR and Kosgoro, two of Golkar's
\npowerful political factions.<\/p>\n
The bickering within MKGR was triggered by the refusal of its
\nchief, Mien Sugandhi, to recognize last month's election of
\nTantyo Sudharmono as chairman of its youth wing.<\/p>\n
Mien, who admitted to having her own preference for the
\ndisputed post, argued that Tantyo -- son of former vice president
\nSudharmono -- was elected in a process full of procedural flaws.<\/p>\n
The group has agreed to solve the dispute, which made front-
\npage headlines in local newspapers and was brought to President
\nSoeharto's attention, in a \"familial dialog\" scheduled for
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
Furious Kosgoro officials also had their frustration exposed
\nto the public when they called a media meeting last month to let
\noff steam after only 30 of their leaders were included on
\nGolkar's list of legislative candidates. After the 1992 election,
\nGolkar had 65 Kosgoro politicians in the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
Other Golkar factions like SOKSI and MKGR are also reportedly
\ndismayed by the reduced number of their politicians on Golkar's
\nlegislative candidate list.<\/p>\n
Riswandha pointed out that the emergence of Army generals with
\nscathing criticism of some of the government's policies is
\ncomplicating Golkar's problems.<\/p>\n
The Army founded Golkar in 1964 to counterbalance the growing
\ninfluence of the Indonesian Communist Party, which was outlawed
\nfor its involvement in the bloody coup attempt in 1965.<\/p>\n
\"The generals' critical statements are obvious signs of strife
\nwithin the political elite,\" he said. He pointed out that some
\nofficials gave statements which exposed weaknesses in the
\nbureaucracy.<\/p>\n
\"Some statements were of so low quality they should not have
\nbeen made by political players,\" Riswandha said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Susilo Utomo said the surfacing conflicts within
\nGolkar factions have caused the public to wonder what actually is
\nhappening within the ruling organization.<\/p>\n
\"The factional conflicts, such as the one riddling MKGR, will
\nhave an insignificant affect on Golkar's performance in the 1997
\nelection,\" said the scholar from Diponegoro University. (har\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/factional-strife-reflects-golkars-chaotic-system-1447893297",
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