Golkar branches hold congresses<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar activists in various provinces are
\nholding congresses to elect their new leaders and to discuss
\nstrategies to survive stiffer competition in the general election
\nnext year.<\/p>\n
In Medan, North Sumatra, Golkar chief Akbar Tandjung opened
\nthe local chapter's congress on Wednesday, during which he
\nassured civil servants that they were no longer required to vote
\nfor Golkar.<\/p>\n
"This is Golkar's stance now," he said, adding that further
\ndetails, however, would be worked out when the House of
\nRepresentatives deliberated the new bill on political parties in
\nthe near future.<\/p>\n
The bill, which is yet to be submitted to the House,
\nstipulates, for instance, that a civil servant may support and
\njoin any party. However, a civil servant will not be able to
\nmaintain certain structural positions in the bureaucracy if he is
\na functionary of the party.<\/p>\n
Akbar also expressed confidence that despite the emergence of
\nnew political parties, Golkar would fare well in the elections.
\nWhen asked whether Golkar aspired to obtain a certain percentage
\nof the vote, Akbar said: "No, there's no such goal. We will just
\npay real attention to what the people want."<\/p>\n
In previous elections under former president Soeharto's
\nregime, Golkar was often accused of being a political machine to
\nperpetuate his power. The dominant political grouping was also
\naccused of justifying any means to maintain its majority
\nposition.<\/p>\n
In the North Sumatra chapter congress which will also end on
\nFriday, there are two strong contenders for the chair: Zainuddin
\nTanjung and Yunus Harahap. Chapter executives said they did not
\nwant additional contenders for fear of causing friction.<\/p>\n
Activists in East Kalimantan said in the capital Samarinda on
\nTuesday that they were confident they would win in the elections
\ndespite the challenge from newly established parties.<\/p>\n
"I am confident that Golkar will get more than 50 percent of
\nthe vote in East Kalimantan," said Golkar chapter chairman
\nHarsono on Tuesday. "Golkar is indeed facing a great challenge,
\nbecause the 1999 general election will be contested by many
\nparties and because, in this reform era, Golkar is in a
\ndisadvantageous position.<\/p>\n
"Many people blame Golkar for the economic crisis. It's not
\ntrue. Of course there were Golkar cadres involved in corruption,
\ncollusion and nepotistic practices, but certainly not all," he
\nsaid as quoted by Antara news agency. The chapter opened its
\ncongress on Wednesday and will end it on Friday when it elects a
\nnew chair.<\/p>\n
In Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh, some 70 students of Ar-
\nRaniry Darussalam State Institute of Islamic Studies demanded
\nthat rector Sofwan Idris choose between his Golkar position and
\nhis rectorship.<\/p>\n
"If you want to keep on being our rector, please, relinquish
\nyour position in the Golkar chapter for the 1998\/2000 term,"
\nstudent Kautsar said in a demonstration at the campus.<\/p>\n
The students said they could not accept their rector being a
\nGolkar leader because they believed the organization was to blame
\nfor the alleged military atrocities in Aceh over the past nine
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Sofwan said it was his individual right to become a party
\nmember, just as it was the students' right to join other parties.<\/p>\n
The East Nusa Tenggara chapter of Golkar concluded its
\ncongress on Tuesday night, electing Daniel Woda Palle as its new
\nchairman for 1998\/2003 to replace J.N. Manafe.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, the East Java chapter congress elected Col. (ret)
\nSoetomo as its new chairman on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Comment<\/p>\n
In Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, political observer Cornelis Lay
\nfrom Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University predicted that within
\nthe next two months, Golkar would split and give birth to new
\npolitical parties.<\/p>\n
"I have seen strong indications toward that development," he
\nsaid as quoted by Antara. "This will undermine Golkar's chance in
\nthe elections."<\/p>\n
He pointed out how some Golkar seniors had established their
\nown organizations, such as Siswono Yudohusodo and Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja who have formed the Movement for Justice and
\nNational Unity, and in all likelihood would develop them into
\npolitical parties.<\/p>\n
"They used to be among those with a strong commitment toward
\nGolkar, and now they are forming new parties out of
\ndisappointment with Golkar," he said.<\/p>\n
In addition, Golkar is being abandoned en mass by those who
\nperceive it as among those responsible for the economic crisis,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
"There is a serious and systematic effort to erode Golkar. It
\nwon't obtain more than 20 percent of the vote in the elections,
\nand that is an optimistic estimate," he said.<\/p>\n
In the May 1997 elections, Golkar won 74 percent of the vote.
\n(swe\/21)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkar-branches-hold-congresses-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}