Golkar planning to use teachers in poll campaign<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State school teachers may well see their
\nalready-heavy burdens mount prior to the May 29 general election
\nas they will probably have to speak at rallies held by the
\ndominant political grouping Golkar.<\/p>\n
Bogor mayor Eddy Garnida, in his capacity as chairman of the
\nregency's Golkar branch advisory board, said he wanted local
\nteachers to speak for Golkar during the April 27 through May 23
\ncampaign.<\/p>\n
Many other Golkar figures across the country are expected to
\nfollow Eddy's lead in demanding teachers' assistance during the
\ncampaign.<\/p>\n
The Kompas daily quoted Eddy on Wednesday as saying that
\nteachers' help would ensure a Golkar victory in the regency.<\/p>\n
The policy received a great deal of criticism yesterday, with
\ndeputy chairwoman of the government-backed Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) Fatimah Achmad branding the policy lamentable.<\/p>\n
"Teachers must be politically neutral because they are the
\npeople students will emulate," she said.<\/p>\n
Teachers make up half of the six-million-strong Civil Servant
\nCorps, whose members are obligated to channel their political
\naspirations through Golkar.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto said last week that civil servants do not
\nhave political responsibilities but only a moral accountability
\nto serve the public well.<\/p>\n
Fatimah agreed with the President, saying that teachers should
\nstick to their mission to educate students. "Instead of involving
\nthemselves in politics, teachers have to guide their students to
\n(strive for) democracy and openness," she said.<\/p>\n
A legislator of the United Development Party (PPP), Hadimulyo,
\nreiterated that teachers are currently preparing their students
\nfor their final exams.<\/p>\n
"Let the teachers carry out their main jobs. Give them a
\nchance to improve their quality, because they play a pivotal role
\nin preparing our future generations," he said.<\/p>\n
Hadimulyo, also an education observer, said that Golkar was
\nlooking for another landslide victory this year by using all
\nmeans at its disposal. Golkar has won the last five elections
\nconvincingly.<\/p>\n
"They (Golkar) have a lot of smart politicians. Why should
\nthey ask teachers to speak at rallies?" asked Hadimulyo.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian teachers' hymn hails the professionals as
\n"national heroes and heroines without medals," but many of them
\nhave seen their salaries cut for various reasons.<\/p>\n
The official in charge of Golkar's election-winning team,
\nRully Chairul Azwar, admitted that the organization would recruit
\nteachers to realize its campaign goals.<\/p>\n
"If they are capable of doing after-school jobs, they can do
\nthem without having to sacrifice their main duties," Rully said.<\/p>\n
He said other political groups were allowed to set up similar
\npolicies.<\/p>\n
Rully denied that Golkar had imposed a political burden on the
\nteachers. "They do not have to bear such burdens when they are at
\nschool," he said. (amd)<\/p>",
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