Legislators dismissed in reorganization: Observers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political observers said on Tuesday that the
\nruling political organization Golkar's decision to dismiss 36
\nlegislators from the House of Representatives (DPR) and five
\nlegislators from the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) was
\npart of the organization's short term-strategy to secure the
\nAssembly's extraordinary session in November.<\/p>\n
Indria Semego, a political researcher at the National
\nInstitute of Science (LIPI), and J. Kristiadi, a political
\nanalyst at the Centre for International and Strategic Studies
\n(CSIS), said Golkar wanted to play safe in the upcoming session.<\/p>\n
\"The dismissal of former cabinet ministers who no longer
\nsupport Golkar will help reduce Golkar's difficulties in the
\nextraordinary session of the MPR in November,\" Indria told The
\nJakarta Post by telephone.<\/p>\n
\"Legislators like Siswono Yudhohusodo and Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja have no selling point for Golkar at all.\"<\/p>\n
\"They will even influence people not to vote for Golkar in
\nnext year's general election,\" he said. Siswono, a former
\nminister of transmigration and Sarwono, a former state minister
\nof environment, have repeatedly criticized Golkar on a range of
\nissues and have said it is not a democratic organization.<\/p>\n
Indria, also a researcher at the Center for Information and
\nDevelopment Studies (CIDES), said the dismissal of the
\nlegislators could be construed as an attempt by the ruling
\npolitical organization to show it was committed to reform and
\nregeneration.<\/p>\n
\"I think Golkar wants to show that cabinet ministers should
\nnot sit in the Assembly and give younger cadres the opportunity
\nto prove their capability.\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kristiadi said the dismissals could not be looked at
\nseparately from President B.J. Habibie's efforts to maintain his
\npower.<\/p>\n
\"It's part of Habibie's attempts to maintain his presidency,\"
\nhe told the Post separately.<\/p>\n
He said the decision to remove the legislators, most of whom
\nare serving and former Cabinet ministers, would condemn Golkar to
\nits lowest ever showing in next year's general election.<\/p>\n
\"The active and former cabinet members were replaced by new
\nand unfamiliar faces who do not know Golkar well,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"In the end, Golkar will only be capable of securing a maximum
\nof 10 percent of the overall votes in next year's general
\nelection,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The decision to dismiss the 41 legislators was stipulated in a
\ndecree issued by the Golkar executive board on Oct. 9, 1998. The
\ndecree was signed by chairman Akbar Tandjung and secretary-
\ngeneral Tuswandi.<\/p>\n
Included on the list were State Minister of the Empowerment of
\nState Enterprises Tanri Abeng, who was replaced by Muhammad Said;
\nMinister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan, replaced by Iwan
\nDermawan; and Minister of Communications Giri Suseno
\nHadihardjono, replaced by H.A.T. Soegito.<\/p>\n
Also included were former minister\/state secretary Moerdiono,
\nreplaced by A.B. Bayupathy; former minister of cooperatives and
\nsmall enterprises Subiakto Tjakrawerdaya, replaced by Moh. Sidi
\nT. Idris; former minister of manpower Abdul Latief, replaced by
\nNurhajati Hakim, former minister of state administrative reforms
\nT.B. Silalahi, replaced by Nathanael Natonius Maidepa; and former
\nminister of tourism, post, and telecommunications Joop Ave, who
\nwas replaced by Leonard Tomasoa.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the legislators' dismissal, Akbar Tandjung said
\nthe decision was a \"natural\" move and part of the organization's
\npolicies.<\/p>\n
\"We need to regenerate our cadres. There are lots of Golkar
\ncadres who need to be given an opportunity,\" Akbar said as quoted
\nby Antara on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Asked about his decision to maintain former minister of
\ndefense Edi Sudradjat's legislative membership, Akbar said Edi
\nwas still needed by Golkar.<\/p>\n
\"We have not replaced pak Edi because we expect him to become
\na member of Golkar's board of advisors,\" he said, adding that
\nthose dismissed had been informed prior to the announcement being
\nmade.<\/p>\n
Golkar's deputy chairman Abdul Gafur said the legislators'
\ndismissal would not be a serious problem because Golkar had many
\npotential good cadres.<\/p>\n
\"We still have a lot of cadres who are loyal to the
\norganization,\" he told the press, adding that the decision to
\nintroduce some younger blood had been taken at Golkar's
\nextraordinary congress in July. (imn)<\/p>",
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