Petisi 50 calls for dissolution of 'arrogant' Golkar<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Petisi 50 group of government critics has
\nlashed out at Golkar over the dominant political grouping's
\nrefusal to apologize to the nation for political mistakes made
\nunder Soeharto's New Order regime.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar's refusal to apologize was not only a display of its
\narrogance, it also demonstrates its reluctance to carry out
\nsubstantial changes,\" group leader Ali Sadikin said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
In a media conference here, Ali also said the reform movement
\nwould benefit from the dissolution of Golkar, arguing that a
\nhealthier and more democratic political climate would result.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar seems to have failed to realize that what needs to be
\nchanged from the New Order political culture is how the political
\nelite disrespects people, ignores human rights and dignity, and
\nhow the political elite (Golkar) stubbornly ignores calls that it
\napologize for mistakes that caused the people suffering.\"<\/p>\n
Ali Sadikin acknowledged claims that Golkar could not bear all
\nthe blame for numerous social, political and economic mistakes
\nunder Soeharto. He said the blame actually lay with all
\ncomponents of the New Order's political machine, especially
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
\"Soeharto, who was president and head of state for 32 years,
\nas well as the Armed Forces (ABRI) with its social and political
\nroles, must also apologize to the nation,\" Ali said.<\/p>\n
\"An apology would show that they have good will, and that they
\nrealize the existing political system and culture has impinged on
\npeople's sovereignty, violated justice, and caused widespread
\nsuffering,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A refusal to apologize meant that \"Golkar did not have the
\nwill to carry on with democratization, as demanded by reform.
\nThis provides all the more reason to dissolve Golkar and allow
\ndemocratization to commence.\"<\/p>\n
Golkar celebrated its 34th anniversary on Tuesday by refusing
\npublic calls for an apology over its role in helping to create a
\npolitical system that enabled power to become concentrated in
\nSoeharto's hands, and which then crashed with painful social,
\neconomic and political consequences.<\/p>\n
The refusal has invited criticism from various quarters.<\/p>\n
However, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung claimed that from now
\non the grouping would commit itself to reform and
\ndemocratization. The political grouping has renamed itself \"New
\nGolkar.\"<\/p>\n
CSIS<\/p>\n
Separately on Thursday, New Golkar's deputy chairman Slamet
\nEfendy Yusuf was quoted as saying by Antara that calls for an
\napology have been \"politicized\" and were meant to push the
\ngrouping into a corner.<\/p>\n
\"What's ironic is that those who outspokenly (criticized
\nGolkar) were actually among the 'big sinners' in the past,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Slamet passed the blame onto the Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies (CSIS), a think-tank of the New Order
\nregime which in the late 1970s laid the foundations for the
\nregime's subsequent political and economic policies.<\/p>\n
\"If we study the political history of Indonesia during the New
\nOrder's 32 years, it's clear that the thinking behind policies,
\nbe they political or economic, were dominated by the CSIS.\"<\/p>\n
New Golkar deputy secretary-general Dien Syamsuddin concurred.
\n\"Kristiadi, the deputy director of CSIS, has groundlessly accused
\nGolkar of being arrogant and we strongly refute that statement,\"
\nhe said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
\"New Golkar is now humbling itself and is working to make
\nimprovements,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Complicated<\/p>\n
Elsewhere on Thursday, President B.J. Habibie opened the fifth
\ncongress of AMPI, a youth organization affiliated to Golkar. In
\nhis address, Habibie acknowledged the complexities of a
\ndemocratic system and said it could only thrive among people
\ncapable of mature thought.<\/p>\n
\"Democracy can only thrive if the people are broad-minded and
\nhave the tolerance to accept different opinions in a society
\nwhere heterogeneity is respected,\" he said at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
\"Democracy can develop only if all parties are ready to uphold
\npolitical ethics, justice and legal norms.<\/p>\n
\"Otherwise, democracy will turn into a joke that will make the
\npeople laugh. Moreover, democracy can turn into anarchy if
\npolitical activists are immature.<\/p>\n
\"It is impossible to achieve democracy through anarchic ways,\"
\nhe added. (swe\/prb)<\/p>",
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