Golkar fires Jusuf Kalla as party advisor<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari and Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta\/Semarang<\/p>\n
The Golkar Party dismissed Jusuf Kalla, a member of the party and
\nthe running mate of election front-runner Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono, from his post as a Golkar advisor on Wednesday, and
\nsuspended the membership of 11 other party members indefinitely
\nfor refusing to support Megawati Soekarnoputri in Monday's
\nelection runoff.<\/p>\n
The 11 suspended Golkar politicians are Fahmi Idris, Marzuki
\nDarusman, Burhanuddin Napitupulu, Juniwati Sofwan, Abu Hasan
\nSazili, Anton Lesiangi, Priyo Budi Santoso, Abu Hanifah, Yoeslin
\nNasution, Edison Betaubun and Firman Soebagyo.<\/p>\n
\"All of them will be given a chance to defend themselves
\nbefore Golkar's Central Executive Board soon,\" Golkar secretary-
\ngeneral Budi Harsono told The Jakarta Post here on Wednesday
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
Budi said their stance during the executive board hearings
\nwould determine whether further action would be taken against
\nthem. No specific date has been set for the hearings.<\/p>\n
Golkar, whose presidential candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto was
\neliminated in the first round of the presidential election, has
\nofficially thrown its support behind President Megawati, who is
\nseeking a full five-year mandate in the election runoff.<\/p>\n
The party has also formed a lose coalition with Megawati's
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) to
\nboost Megawati's chances in the election.<\/p>\n
Despite the political pact, many Golkar leaders have openly
\nexpressed their support for Susilo, a retired four-star Army
\ngeneral, prompting Golkar's Central Executive Board (DPP) to take
\naction against them.<\/p>\n
The decision to dismiss Kalla from his advisor's post and
\nsuspend 11 other party members was taken during a plenary meeting
\nof Golkar's executive board that lasted from 10:30 p.m. on
\nTuesday to 4:20 a.m. on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
Of 47 Golkar executive members attending the meeting, 29 of
\nthem called for severe sanctions to be imposed on the dissidents.
\nThe other members supported the decision.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, Central Java, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said
\nthat the 11 politicians had been suspended as they had rejected
\nthe party's political line.<\/p>\n
Akbar said that the maneuvers by Fahmi and his allies,
\nespecially their forming of the Golkar Reform Forum (FPPG), could
\ndamage the party's unity.<\/p>\n
As for the dismissal of Kalla from his advisor's post, Akbar
\nand Budi said that Kalla often organized meetings with Golkar
\nmembers without giving prior notice to Golkar's executive board.<\/p>\n
Golkar deputy chairman Agung Laksono told the press that the
\nparty would also review the position of Fahmi as chairman of the
\nGolkar Faction in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
\"We will discuss the consequences of the suspension in more
\ndetail,\" Agung said, adding that the party had warned the 11
\npoliticians twice, on Sept. 2 and Sept. 8 respectively.<\/p>\n
Responding to the decision by the executive board, Kalla said
\nthat it was an overreaction. He also questioned which party rules
\nhe had violated.<\/p>\n
He said that Golkar's decision to remove him from the party
\nadvisory board and suspend 11 other members was a clear emulation
\nof the New Order's repressive approach.<\/p>\n
Kalla acknowledged that he was present at the establishment of
\nthe Golkar Reform Forum. However, he claimed that he was only a
\nguest, not a founding member.<\/p>\n
Political analyst J. Kristiadi said that Golkar's decision
\nclearly showed the arrogance of Golkar's leaders, and their
\ndisregard for the views of grassroots members.<\/p>",
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