5 House factions support Golkar

JAKARTA (JP): Five major factions at the House of Representatives cast their political weight on Wednesday and came to the defense of the embattled Golkar Party, censuring public calls for the dissolution of the party's existence.

The five factions -- the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), United Development Party (PPP), Ummat Sovereignty Party (PDU), Crescent Star Party (PBB) and Reform -- along with Golkar itself, made a common stand saying that the former ruling party's rights and existence was guaranteed by law.

Achmad Sumargono, spokesman for the six factions, told journalists that no one except the court has the authority to dissolve Golkar.

"In line with ongoing actions, massive demonstrations and circulating opinions on the dissolution of a political party, it should be done in accordance with the 1999 law on political parties," Achmad said during a joint press conference.

"Any activities that are done outside of the legal mechanism is against the law and must be halted," he asserted.

The six factions also condemned violent rallies which have taken place in East Java, especially the torching of Golkar's office in Surabaya last Wednesday.

They called on law enforcers to take action against those involved in the aggressive action.

Golkar has been under fire recently for its perceived connections with the past regime and its support for a House memorandum which censured President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Abdurrahman himself has also defended the Golkar Party's existence and that its current structure is different from the party which supported former president Soeharto in the past.

Arifin Panigoro, chairman of the PDI Perjuangan faction, maintained on Wednesday that their support for Golkar was not related to the escalating tension between the legislative body and the President.

"This statement not only has the support from faction chairmen but also from all its members," Arifin claimed.

"It's an expression of solidarity among the factions, but it has nothing to do with the tension between the House and the President. In fact it is even expected to calm things," he added.

Arifin argued that the censure and the issuance of a memorandum against the President was the House's constitutional right and was used in line with its control function.

"The House sticks to the 1978 MPR decree and the laws pertaining to the issuance of a memorandum," he said.

Arifin remarked that any acceleration towards a special session, which could possibly begin an impeachment process, would depend on whether "the President makes repairs in his government."

The six were among the eight factions that accepted the result of a probe by a special House Committee over the President's alleged involvement in the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) and Brunei scandals.

Despite the show of political support, new allegations of financial impropriety have been quickly rising to the fore, in particular claims that it obtained financial donations from Bulog during the 1999 general election.

Golkar Party Deputy Treasurer Enggartiasto Lukito separately denied any wrongdoing by his party.

"If anybody wants to audit the party it's okay. We have submitted our financial report on the use of election funds to the Supreme Court and we have been cleared from all charges against us," Enggartiasto remarked.

During the last election Golkar used around Rp 90 billion for campaign activities, but it was not from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), as suggested by Minister of Defense Mahfud MD, Enggartiasto said.

Meanwhile, Aly As'ad and Effendi Choirie, two members of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, on Wednesday filed a lawsuit to the Central Jakarta court against House Speaker Akbar Tandjung and Bachtiar Chamsyah, chairman of the special committee investigating the two financial scandals.

Effendi said inconsistencies were abound as the House supported a probe into the two financial scandals allegedly involving the President, but refused to open up an investigation into the "leakage" of Rp 2 trillion nonbudgetary funds from Bulog which may implicate Golkar.

Effendi further said Bachtiar was being sued because he allowed the special committee to vote over facts during the investigation.(rms/dja)