Golkar Party enlists ex-servicemen<\/p>\n
Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Embattled former ruling party Golkar has recruited a number of
\nretired police and military officers into its ranks, which
\nanalysts described as a move to maintain or even improve its
\nperformance in the 2004 general elections.<\/p>\n
The party has recruited to its colors Jakarta Police chief
\nInsp. Gen. (ret) Noegroho Djajoesman, former coordinator of
\nexpert advisors to the Indonesian Military commander, Maj. Gen.
\n(ret) I.G.N. Arcana, and former Jakarta deputy governor Abdul
\nKahfi.<\/p>\n
Theo L. Sambuaga, one of Golkar's deputy chairpersons, told
\nThe Jakarta Post on Saturday that it was the desire of the
\nretired officers to join the party, and not the party who enticed
\nthem to join.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Theo said, it was not just former military and
\npolice officers who had recently joined the party, but also
\nbusinesspeople, lawyers and former diplomats.<\/p>\n
Theo said these people were recruited because they were close
\nto Golkar and had achievements that the party could count on.<\/p>\n
"This proves that Golkar is still attractive to many people
\nalthough we often have different opinions among our leaders. It
\nalso shows that having different opinions is something normal and
\ngives a sense of democracy. That makes the party attractive," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Theo was apparently referring to differences of opinion among
\nGolkar executives about the leadership of Akbar Tandjung over
\nGolkar as well as the House of Representatives following Akbar's
\nconviction by the Central Jakarta District Court of
\nmisappropriating Rp 40 billion (US$4.5 million) of public funds.<\/p>\n
Theo, in fact, is one of the Golkar leaders who have asked
\nAkbar to step down as the leader both of Golkar and the House.
\nOther party leaders with the same opinion are Marwah Daud
\nIbrahim, Fahmi Idris and Agung Laksono.<\/p>\n
Political analysts J. Kristiadi and Denny J.A. saw Golkar's
\nrecruitment of retired military and police officers as a move to
\nanticipate the 2004 election.<\/p>\n
However, the two analysts differed on the possible effects on
\nthe party's performance in 2004.<\/p>\n
Kristiadi of the Centre for Strategic and International
\nStudies (CSIS) said the recruitment of retired security officials
\ncould even make Golkar even look bad in the eyes of the people.<\/p>\n
"It's a mistake to chose persons who have no selling points
\nanymore instead of recruiting members of the younger generation
\nwho are broad-minded and have wider perspectives.<\/p>\n
"It's just Golkar stupidity. It will make the party more
\nisolated from the people. First, it already has a convicted
\nleader, and now it is becoming militaristic," he said.<\/p>\n
Kristiadi also said that Golkar's maneuver also showed that
\ncivilian politicians were still regarded as being inferior to the
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
Denny J.A. from Jayabaya University, however, differed and
\nsaid the entrance of retired military and police officers into
\nGolkar showed that they had submitted themselves to civilian
\nleadership, the leadership of Akbar in Golkar.<\/p>\n
He said the presence of retired officers would improve the
\nparty's image before the public, but not before non-governmental
\norganization activists.<\/p>\n
"The military is a symbol of security. People will support a
\nparty that can give a feeling of security as the realm of
\npolitics after the Bali bombings and the international war on
\nterrorism has placed Muslims, or the majority of Indonesians, in
\na delicate position," Denny said.<\/p>\n
However, Denny considered that Golkar's decision would be
\nunpopular among activists. He contended that most NGOs were
\nopposed to the military regaining its political power.<\/p>",
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