Golkar declares record win<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar proclaimed its victory yesterday in
\nThursday's general election, pointing out that the landslide win
\nfurther legitimized the New Order government and reflected public
\nendorsement of the political and electoral systems.<\/p>\n
Golkar chairman Harmoko told a news conference that
\nallegations of widespread vote-rigging had little impact on the
\nparty's record victory.<\/p>\n
\"The problems occurred in only one or two areas. Set against
\nthe 305,000 polling stations nationwide, the alleged problems at
\nsome stations were understandably normal,\" Harmoko said.<\/p>\n
The United Development Party (PPP), alleging widespread vote-
\nrigging and intimidation, has demanded that polling in Sampang,
\nJember, Gowa, Sidrap, Polmas and many regencies in West Sumatra
\nbe repeated.<\/p>\n
In Jember, Moslem leaders supporting the PPP threatened \"there
\nwould be unwanted incidents\" if the authorities refused their
\ndemands for a revote.<\/p>\n
Jember regent Winarno acknowledged there had been cases of
\nvote-rigging but refused to hold voting again because \"there was
\nno law on which to base such a repetition\".<\/p>\n
With ballot counting completed in 23 of the 27 provinces
\nyesterday, Golkar had won 82.39 million, or 74.27 percent, of the
\n110.93 million votes counted (89 percent of the ballots due to
\nhave been cast by 124.7 million registered voters), the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) had 25.13 million, or 22.66 percent, and
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) had 3.40 million, or 3.07
\npercent.<\/p>\n
Harmoko, also the minister of information, said the high voter
\nturnout of almost 90 percent of registered voters proved that
\npeople throughout the country favored continued development in a
\npeaceful and stable climate.<\/p>\n
\"The people reject radical, brutal and violent conduct in
\ncontinuing development,\" he said referring to the violence and
\nrioting in several provinces during the campaign and on election
\nday.<\/p>\n
Generally speaking, he said, Golkar considered that this
\nyear's general election -- the seventh since Indonesia proclaimed
\nits independence on Aug. 17, 1945 -- had significantly improved
\nthe quality of people's political education and communication.<\/p>\n
Dismissed<\/p>\n
Harmoko dismissed analysts' claims that the violence in the
\nweeks leading up to the election, which left more than 260 people
\ndead and a trail of damage across the country, was caused by
\ngrowing dissatisfaction with the government.<\/p>\n
The National Elections Institute's secretary, Suryatna
\nSubrata, announced yesterday that ballot counting was continuing
\nin Jakarta with ballots cast by Indonesians overseas yet to be
\ncounted.<\/p>\n
He said final tallies had yet to be completed in Irian Jaya
\nand East Timor because of transportation problems.<\/p>\n
He said counting in East Java could not be completed because
\nthe National Elections Committee, at the request of the chiefs of
\ndistrict elections committees, had decided to let people vote
\nagain tomorrow at 121 polling stations in Sampang and Pamekasan
\ndistricts on Madura island, off East Java.<\/p>\n
Voters rampaged in Sampang and Pamekasan on election day and
\nlast Friday over allegations of vote-rigging.<\/p>\n
But Suryatna dismissed the notion that voting would be held
\nagain because of allegations of cheating. He said it was because
\nsecurity disturbances had stopped voters casting their ballots
\npeacefully and orderly.<\/p>\n
Harmoko also denied allegations that the revote on Madura
\nisland had anything to do with pressure from the Moslem-based
\nPPP, whose supporters rioted last Thursday and Friday.<\/p>\n
PPP and the Independent Election Monitoring Committee have
\nreported widespread vote-rigging and fraud on election day.<\/p>\n
Harmoko said a revote was needed simply because many ballot
\nboxes had been burned.<\/p>\n
\"So to complete the vote count it was agreed that balloting
\nshould be rerun,\" he said, adding that Golkar had also agreed to
\nvoting again in Madura.<\/p>\n
Harmoko, who was jubilant about Golkar's landslide win, was
\naccompanied at the press conference by most of the party's
\nleaders, including deputy chairwoman Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana and
\nsecretary-general Ary Mardjono.<\/p>\n
Charting out Golkar's future tasks, Harmoko said the party was
\neven more committed and determined to realize the people's wishes
\nand aspirations for reforms and reformation of the nationhood and
\nstatehood.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar's victory means a win for development,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He defined development as a gradual process of change and
\nreform for the public's welfare.<\/p>\n
\"That is why I should state that Golkar's win is a victory for
\nthe course of change and reform according to the pace as called
\nfor by the democratic system based on the state ideology
\nPancasila\", he said.<\/p>\n
But Harmoko cautioned Golkar's rank and file against
\ninordinate rejoicing and complacency over the record victory,
\nreminding them that the win meant the party had a bigger
\nresponsibility to strive for the aspirations of the people and
\ncontinue national development. (aan\/nur)<\/p>\n
More stories on Page 2<\/p>\n
Jakartans -- Page 3<\/p>\n
Trends -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkar-declares-record-win-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }