Golkar rejects rights restriction claim<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar Secretary-General Ary Mardjono denied
\nyesterday the ruling faction was curtailing its members' rights
\nby insisting they individually declare their support for the
\ncandidacies of Soeharto and B.J. Habibie as president and vice
\npresident respectively.<\/p>\n
By the time the General Session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly kicks off this morning, the vast majority of Golkar
\nfaction members will have signed a form that indicates their
\npersonal support for the two candidates.<\/p>\n
\"Each Golkar representative in the Assembly will have to sign
\nthe form by midnight,\" Ary told reporters after attending the
\nlast briefing for Golkar legislators at the Assembly building
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
A Golkar faction executive, Fahmi Idris, said later that two
\nof the 586 representatives of the ruling organization were unable
\nto sign the forms: one was sick while the other was on assignment
\nabroad.<\/p>\n
Ary admitted the signing was mandatory, but he was quick to
\ndeny it was a restriction of the individual rights of Golkar
\nlegislators.<\/p>\n
\"We need the signatures just to meet administrative procedures
\nof the presidential and vice presidential nominations, as
\nstipulated by Assembly decree number two in 1973.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar welcomes different views only during internal
\nmeetings. But once the organization reaches a decision, all
\nfaction members should support it.\"<\/p>\n
The signatures will be attached to a letter stating Golkar's
\ncandidates which will be presented to the Assembly's leaders.
\nCritics have speculated the signing was designed to minimize the
\npossibility of dissent.<\/p>\n
Golkar, the Armed Forces, the regional representatives, the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) factions have all named incumbent Soeharto and State
\nMinister of Research and Technology Habibie for the presidency
\nand vice presidency.<\/p>\n
Ary said it would be normal if all Golkar representatives
\nvoted for Soeharto and Habibie in the presidential and vice
\npresidential elections by the 1,000-member Assembly, only because
\nthe ruling political organization had named the duo as its
\nchoices.<\/p>\n
Interruptions<\/p>\n
While Ary expressed his guarded optimism that no Golkar
\nlegislator would dissent, the leader of the PDI faction Buttu
\nHutapea hinted that he would allow his team members to interrupt
\nthe Assembly's meetings.<\/p>\n
\"I cannot guarantee there will be no interruptions (by PDI
\nlegislators) during the meetings. But I hope that the Assembly
\nsessions run smoothly,\" Buttu said.<\/p>\n
He said the Assembly's internal rules allowed legislators to
\ninterrupt a session.<\/p>\n
The rules state that an interruption is allowed only for
\nmatters of technicality. An Assembly member may interrupt the
\nproceedings to seek clarification, to correct any improper
\nimplementation of procedures or to call for a break.<\/p>\n
Buttu said it seemed unnecessary to dissent and interrupt
\nsessions because all the factions had already agreed on the draft
\nof the State Policy Guidelines and other decrees to be endorsed
\nduring the 11-day convention.<\/p>\n
\"If a faction member feels unsatisfied with certain matters,
\nhe or she should call for an internal meeting to discuss them,\"
\nButtu said.<\/p>\n
Separately, outgoing Minister of Environment Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja said the General Session would not be that smooth
\nif leaders, spokespeople, and the factions' floor leaders
\ndisplayed a lack of political skills.<\/p>\n
Sarwono, who is a former Golkar secretary-general, predicted
\ntherefore that \"threats\" to the session would come from inside
\nrather than outside.<\/p>\n
He dismissed those who said the General Session had been so
\narranged that the people's representatives would only need to
\nknock the gavel to signify an end to the discussion.<\/p>\n
He said \"incidents\" could happen if some people overacted.<\/p>\n
Sarwono warned that many Assembly members were people with
\n\"education, ranking, and power\" who had the right to interrupt
\nthe proceedings should they find something \"improperly managed\".<\/p>\n
Sarwono, who is also a member of the Golkar squad for the
\nupcoming convention, said threats from inside were imminent.<\/p>\n
\"If not, why did the leaders of all of the factions warn
\nmembers against dissenting, and threaten to dismiss those who
\ndefied the warning?\"<\/p>\n
Asked about his own expectations for the session, he said it
\nshould be able to accommodate people's rising concerns about the
\neffects of the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
\"There are many professors, engineers, ministers and governors
\njoining the Assembly. Let's just hope they will be able and
\nwilling to do that.\" (aan\/imn\/amd)<\/p>",
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