Golkar considers dismissing Irian Jaya legislators<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar's top leaders in Irian Jaya are
\nconsidering a crackdown on its recalcitrant legislators who
\nfailed to vote for the faction's own candidate during last
\nmonth's council speaker election.<\/p>\n
Chief of Golkar's Irian Jaya branch, Bima, said in Jayapura
\nyesterday that he would consult with the party's central board of
\nexecutives on whether the legislators could be dismissed.<\/p>\n
"Sanctions will be imposed on those who do not obey the
\norganization's policies," Bima warned. "If the central board
\napproves the action, we will dismiss them."<\/p>\n
He said the "guilty" legislators would then undergo "special
\ntraining to improve their political knowledge" from the Golkar
\noffice, after being recalled from their council posts.<\/p>\n
According to Bima, an internal investigation is now underway.<\/p>\n
Bima was an unlikely loser in a race for council speaker
\nagainst his Armed Forces faction rival, Robert Sitorus, on July
\n25. The Armed Forces, whose members do not vote, had nine seats
\nreserved for it.<\/p>\n
Despite the fact Golkar held a majority of seats with 32, Bima
\nlost 9-27 in the voting. Many Golkar legislators apparently voted
\nagainst their own candidate.<\/p>\n
Golkar legislators then boycotted Sitorus' induction last
\nweek, following an order from the party's central board sent by
\nfax by deputy chairman Moechtar.<\/p>\n
The rift was apparently settled on Monday when all Golkar
\nlegislators attended Sitorus' rescheduled installation ceremony.<\/p>\n
Bima said a split within Golkar showed dynamism in the
\ncouncil, but deplored the fact that the move cost the party its
\norganizational unity.<\/p>\n
"Unity and cohesiveness play a pivotal role in Golkar's
\nattempt to maintain its interests and credibility," Bima said, as
\nquoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Support of disciplinary action against deserting Golkar
\nlegislators came yesterday from a tribal group which affiliates
\nitself with Golkar. It called for an overhaul of the faction's
\noffice in the province.<\/p>\n
"Without drastic changes in personnel, more serious problems
\nwill hit the organization in the future," group leader Theys
\nEluay said.<\/p>\n
Eluay, who is also chief of the Sentani tribe, said the
\noverhaul was necessary to help the province's Golkar leadership
\nreaffirm members' allegiance.<\/p>\n
"Those who broke party rules deserve to be heavily punished
\nfor the sake of Golkar pride and continuity of development in the
\nprovince," he said.<\/p>\n
Eluay was secretary of a 1969 United Nations committee in the
\nprovince which determined that Irian Jaya would be part of the
\nRepublic of Indonesia. He has been a Golkar legislator since
\n1977. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkar-considers-dismissing-irian-jaya-legislators-1447893297",
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