Observers doubt Golkar independence declaration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political observers have expressed doubt that
\nGolkar will follow through on its \"lip service\" declaration of
\nindependence from its two main supporters, the Armed Forces and
\nthe bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
Bambang Triantoro and Afan Gaffar separately agreed that the
\ndominant political grouping could only retain its long-standing
\npolitical supremacy with the help of the two powerful bodies.<\/p>\n
The observers agreed that Golkar's power hinged on its close
\nties with both the Armed Forces (ABRI) and the bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
\"Although Golkar has declared its independence from the
\nbureaucracy and the Armed Forces, it will still rely on these two
\npillars to earn its votes at next year's general election,\"
\nBambang told The Jakarta Post by telephone.<\/p>\n
Bambang, a former Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical
\naffairs, said he believed there would not be any significant
\nchanges in Golkar's strategy for the next election, scheduled for
\nMay 1999.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar's statement that it is disassociating itself from the
\nbureaucracy and the Armed Forces will remain as lip service,\"
\nBambang said.<\/p>\n
\"It will be difficult to erase what has been a habit for 30
\nyears,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He cited what he believed was Golkar's unreadiness to
\naccommodate diversity in opinions and concepts, even within the
\norganization's own internal structure.<\/p>\n
\"They (Golkar officials) said during Golkar's extraordinary
\ncongress in July that it was natural to have different opinions.<\/p>\n
\"Now they have just discharged outspoken legislators who had
\nopinions and ideas which were different from the Golkar executive
\nboard,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Though admitting that a decline in its share of the vote was
\npossible, Golkar leaders said over the weekend they would still
\nretain their supremacy in next year's election. Deputy chairman
\nAbdul Gafur said they could secure 50 percent of votes cast in
\nthe election.<\/p>\n
Bambang said all regional and lower-level military commanders,
\nas well as governors, regents and subdistrict heads nationwide
\nwould vote Golkar in the election.<\/p>\n
\"All governors, regents and subdistrict heads are still Golkar
\ncadres. None are from other political parties,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Bambang did not dismiss the possibility that Golkar would use
\n\"money politics\" to maintain its grip on power at next year's
\nelection.<\/p>\n
\"It's not impossible because the nation is in a crisis, the
\npeople's purchasing power is limited and the unemployment rate is
\nrising,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Also, money is not haram (forbidden) in politics because any
\nparty will do anything to gain as many votes as possible,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said he believed Golkar could still retain its supremacy
\nand stand among the election's \"big five\" contestants.<\/p>\n
Afan, however, said it would not be easy for Golkar to repeat
\nits \"old\" electioneering techniques.<\/p>\n
\"The use of money politics and mobilization of members of the
\nArmed Forces and the Corps of Civil Servants will not be as easy
\nas in the past because the election will be tightly supervised,\"
\nAfan told the Post.<\/p>\n
He said there was no guarantee that Golkar's traditional
\nallies -- namely members of the Corps of Civil Servants -- would
\ncontinue to support the grouping in the post-Soeharto era.<\/p>\n
\"Lower-ranking government officials will be a serious
\n(challenge) to Golkar because they no longer feel obliged to vote
\nfor it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Speaking on Golkar's chances of yet another election victory,
\nAfan said the political organization's fate rested on the
\ncredibility of its cadres.<\/p>\n
\"It is the cadres' selling points that will help Golkar in
\nnext year's election,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that Golkar could also still rely on the support of
\nmany other traditional allies around the country.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar still has around 250 affiliated social and mass
\norganizations. Only a few organizations have declared their
\nindependence from the grouping,\" he said. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/observers-doubt-golkar-independence-declaration-1447893297",
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