More doors shut on Golkar party<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar Party, blamed for the economic and
\npolitical crisis, has suffered more humiliating rejections in
\nCentral Sulawesi and Central Java.<\/p>\n
In the Central Sulawesi regency of Buol Tolitoli, nine
\npolitical parties issued a joint petition in which they demanded
\nthat Golkar be banned from campaigning because it violated too
\nmany rules.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the Central Java town of Kendal, a crowd set
\nfire Tuesday night to a stage erected for a Golkar campaign.<\/p>\n
The Kendal incident was the latest Golkar has suffered in
\nCentral Java recently. Last month, Golkar supporters were
\nattacked by a mob wearing Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) attributes.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the motorcade of party chief Akbar Tanjung was
\npelted with stones in Jakarta by people who claimed that Golkar
\nofficials failed to honor their promise to give them money if
\nthey would take part in that day's campaign.<\/p>\n
Arief Muluk, chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), and
\none of the nine parties issuing the joint statement in Buol
\nTolitoli said the petition was issued after their formal
\ncomplaint with the local elections committee went unheeded.<\/p>\n
In their joint petition, the parties revealed the numerous
\nviolations of electoral rules Golkar Party committed. For
\nexample, officials of Paleleh subdistrict intimidated residents
\nwho support other parties.<\/p>\n
Golkar officials visited Paleleh residents on a door-to-door
\nbasis, promising the villagers financial assistance if they vote
\nfor Golkar Party in next month's election, the petition said.<\/p>\n
Local government officials are also accused of offering social
\nsafety net funds and cheap farming credit only to people who are
\ncommitted to voting for Golkar.<\/p>\n
Separately, Helmy D. Yambas, deputy chief of the Central
\nSulawesi Golkar chapter, said Golkar as an organization was not
\nresponsible for what the Paleleh bureaucrats did as the party
\nalliance claimed.<\/p>\n
Moreover, he said, the parties had no authority to ban any
\nparty from campaigning.<\/p>\n
The party alliance consists of PAN, PDI Perjuangan, United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB), Crescent
\nStar Party (PBB), Nahdlatul Umat Party (PNU), Muslim Community
\nAwakening Party (PKU) and Indonesian United Islam Party (PSII).<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Slamet Effendi Yusuf, one of Golkar's deputy
\nchiefs, said in Semarang yesterday that the party wants to see
\nformer president Soeharto brought to trial on corruption charges.<\/p>\n
"I have repeatedly demanded that the Habibie government move
\nto combat corruption, collusion and nepotism as well as bring the
\nSoeharto case to court as the People's Consultative Assembly has
\ncommissioned," he told journalists. (38\/har)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-doors-shut-on-golkar-party-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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