Try, Edi join breakaway Golkar party<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former vice president Try Sutrisno and former
\ndefense minister Edi Sudradjat, both retired Army generals,
\nsigned their names to a declaration on Tuesday to form a new
\npolitical party along with nearly 100 other discontented members
\nof Golkar.<\/p>\n
The as-yet unnamed political party immediately announced its
\nintention to contest the general election scheduled for June next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Hayono Isman, the former youth affairs and sports minister,
\ntold reporters that the new party was intended to accommodate the
\naspirations of Golkar members who are not happy with the policies
\nbeing pursued by the current leadership.<\/p>\n
The name of the new party and the line up of its leadership
\nwill be announced at the party's inauguration, which is planned
\nfor Dec. 15.<\/p>\n
The presence of Try and Edi, both widely respected figures in
\nthe Armed Forces and Golkar, has lent credence to the new party.<\/p>\n
Other signatories include Hayono himself, former environment
\nminister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and former Golkar legislators
\nBambang Warih Koesoema, Indra Bambang Utoyo, Mubha Kahar Muang
\nand Tatto S. Pradjamanggala.<\/p>\n
The petition to form the new party came at the end of a two-
\nday seminar to discuss Golkar's chances in a multiparty political
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
Golkar has dominated the political scene for the last 32
\nyears, winning every election in the three-party system
\nhandcrafted by former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"We have not reached an agreement on what to call the party,
\nbut several names have been proposed by our colleagues and
\nparticipants at the seminar,\" Hayono said.<\/p>\n
Suggested names include Partai Merah Putih (the Red and White
\nParty), Partai Keadilan dan Persatuan (the Justice and Unity
\nParty) and Partai Persatuan Bangsa (the National Unity Party).<\/p>\n
While admitting differences in vision, Hayono said the new
\nparty would welcome current Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, if he
\nwished to join. \"After all, we still have a lot of similarities
\nin our political aspirations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Edi lost the race for the Golkar chairmanship to Akbar at the
\nparty's extraordinary congress in July.<\/p>\n
Hayono said he had no illusions about the party's chances in
\nnext year's election. \"Five percent (of the votes) will be fine.\"<\/p>\n
\"Insya Allah (God willing), we'll get more support in five to
\n10 years,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Insiders said the new party had already established 16
\nregional chapters and was also counting on the support of several
\ndiscontented provincial chapters of Golkar.<\/p>\n
Separately, Akbar, who is also the Minister\/State Secretary,
\nplayed down the significance of the declaration, saying on
\nTuesday that he had no right to prevent Golkar members from
\nleaving if they were dissatisfied with his leadership.<\/p>\n
Akbar considered the establishment of a new party a challenge
\nto Golkar to further improve its performance and secure victory
\nat next year's election.<\/p>\n
\"Let the voters decide if they prefer this new political party
\nor Golkar,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He dismissed speculation that the new party would poach
\nGolkar's traditional supporters.<\/p>\n
Bambang Warih Koesoema, who was among those who drew up plans
\nfor the new party, said two organizations would be established:
\none a political party and the other a joint secretariat which
\nwould function as a moral movement.<\/p>\n
Sarwono, who served as Golkar secretary-general from 1983 to
\n1988, said the new political party would not incorporate the
\nMovement for Indonesian Justice and Unity (GKPB), of which he
\nalso is a member.<\/p>\n
\"GKPB will remain a moral movement in its own right,\" he said.
\n(imn\/prb)<\/p>",
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