5 House factions support Golkar

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)