Akbar Tandjung questions the existence of PRD

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung urged the government on Sunday to reassess the existence of the Democratic People's Party (PRD) following allegations of its involvement in vandalism of Golkar offices in East Java.

"We will ask the Minister of Justice and Human Rights Baharuddin Lopa and Minister of Home Affairs Soerjadi Soedirdja to soon review PRD ... Whether it is still consistent or not with the nation's goals," Akbar, who is also the House Speaker, told journalists here at Hasanuddin International Airport.

Akbar made a brief stopover here on his way to Jakarta after a visit to Jayapura, Irian Jaya.

"If PRD's purpose and principles are no longer relevant to the country, then PRD's existence must be questioned," Akbar remarked.

In Jakarta, PRD executive Andi Arief on Sunday brushed off Akbar's comments arguing that PRD had been accepted by the General Election Commission (KPU) and declared a legal party which was allowed to participate in the 1999 general election.

"If PRD must undergo reevaluation, how about other political parties?" Andi remarked when contacted by The Jakarta Post.

In a rather emotional tone, Andi lashed back saying that PRD has never committed a political or economic crime, while Golkar itself has been party to such acts.

"If there was a party which should be reevaluated, I guess it should be Golkar. They should be held responsible for upholding a dictatorship," he charged.

Under the New Order rule of former President Soeharto, PRD was prohibited, for reasons among others for refusing to include Pancasila as its only ideology.

"Our ideology is social democracy, particularly for the people. There are a lot of parties with an ideology like ours in Europe. I suggest Akbar go to Europe and find out for himself," Andi remarked.

Akbar also described the demand to dissolve Golkar as "irrational".

"The Golkar Party was officially established within the existing law," he said.

On a stronger note, Akbar warned that "if anti-Golkar protesters continue to use violence, Golkar supporters will be ready to respond. However, I have asked Golkar's masses in eastern Indonesia to stay calm and avoid physical action," Akbar said. (02/27/edt)