Sacked Golkar legislators protest their dismissal<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Three members of the dominant Golkar political
\ngrouping protested their dismissal from the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) on Thursday, calling their leaders
\nauthoritarian.<\/p>\n
Mubha Kahar Muang, Indra Bambang Oetojo and Bachriyoen
\nSoetjipto, withdrawn from the House on Wednesday, separately said
\nthey did not know the reasons for their dismissal.<\/p>\n
They charged that Golkar had not changed despite the reform
\nera.<\/p>\n
"I thought Golkar... would respect differences of opinion
\namong its representatives in the House and the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR). It did not," Mubha said as quoted by
\nBerita Buana on Thursday.<\/p>\n
"I am surprised that in this era of openness, a difference of
\nopinion is considered as proof of mbalelo (rebelling against the
\nparty line)," Mubha said.<\/p>\n
She charged that Golkar, currently chaired by Akbar Tandjung,
\nwas now more authoritarian than it was under its former chairman,
\nHarmoko.<\/p>\n
"When Golkar's central board was set up in its last special
\ncongress (in July), Akbar appeared to be more accommodative and
\ndemocratic. But on his way to leading the political grouping, he
\nhas been infected by many viruses," he said.<\/p>\n
The dismissal has also sparked harsh reaction from the Forum
\nfor Communication of Servicemen's Children (FKPPI), who said in a
\nstatement it was considering withdrawing its support for Golkar
\nin the next general election.<\/p>\n
FKPPI chairman Didiet Haryadi Priyohutomo said his
\norganization was mulling over the possibility of joining the
\nKemal Idris-led National Front.<\/p>\n
The three dismissed Golkar representatives were also members
\nof the organization which was set up in August to act as a force
\nfor government opposition. Three other executives of the National
\nFront -- Siswono Yudohusodo, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and Hayono
\nIsman -- were also dismissed by Golkar from the MPR.<\/p>\n
"We will take a clear stand. Why would we give our support to
\nGolkar if it persecutes our executives? If Golkar continues
\nsacking its good cadres such as Siswono Yudohusodho, Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja and Hayono Isman, it will be divided," he said.<\/p>\n
Sixty-seven MPR members were dismissed on Wednesday, 37 of
\nwhich were from the dominant Golkar faction, three from the PPP
\nfaction, 19 Regional Representatives and eight from the Armed
\nForces (ABRI) faction.<\/p>\n
Most of the Golkar members recalled from the MPR are former
\nministers. They are Siswono, Sarwono, Hayono, Haryanto
\nDhanutirto, Azwar Anas, Moerdiono, Djamaluddin Suyohadikusumo,
\nSaleh Afiff, I.B. Soedjana, Sony Harsono, Mar'ie Muhammad,
\nTarmizi Taher, Wardiman Djojonegoro, Subyakto Tjakrawerdaya,
\nEndang K. Inten Suweno, Sanyoto Sastrowardojo, Abdul Latief,
\nIbrahim Hasan, TB Silalahi, Joop Ave, Radinal Moochtar, Sujudi,
\nSaadilah Mursyid, Tunky Ariwibowo.<\/p>\n
Three serving ministers -- Tanri Abeng, Rahardi Ramelan and
\nGiri Suseno -- were also recalled.<\/p>\n
New MPR members from Golkar include Mansyur Maksum, Reinout
\nSylvanus, Chris Kanter, Simon Petrus Siliwoa, Basri Hasanuddin,
\nJimmy Ibrahim, Firdaus M., Tjarda Muchtar, Selamat Limbong and
\nToto Suwarto.<\/p>\n
New faces in ABRI's faction include Lt. Gen. Johny Lumintang,
\nchief of ABRI's School of Command (Sesko ABRI); Maj. Gen. Sudi
\nSilalahi, assistant to ABRI's chief of Socio-political Affairs;
\nand J.B. Wirawan. They replaced Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto;
\nLt. Gen. M. Yunus Yosfiah, current minister of information; and
\nMaj. Gen. Safrie Syamsoeddin, an assistant to ABRI's chief of
\ngeneral affairs.<\/p>\n
In the Regional Representatives faction, Coordinating Minister
\nfor Political and Security Affairs Feisal Tanjung was appointed
\nto replace Ma'ruf Amin, while Tuswandi replaced Yusril Ihza
\nMahendra, the leader of the Bulan-Bintang Party; and Bomer
\nPasaribu, the deputy chairman of the Federation of All Indonesian
\nWorkers Union (FSPSI) took the place of Farid A. Moeloek, the
\ncurrent minister of health.<\/p>\n
In addition, Rofiqul Uman replaced Minister of Mines and
\nEnergy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, Maktub Effendi replaced Minister of
\nFinance Bambang Subianto, Dipo Alam replaced Minister of
\nEducation and Culture Juwono Sudarsono and Nopirin replaced
\nMinister\/Chairman of the National Board for Development Planning
\nBoediono.<\/p>\n
Akbar said the Golkar dismissals were carried out because many
\nwere no longer loyal to the political grouping. (rms)<\/p>",
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