Akbar visits ruins of Golkar office

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung visited on Friday afternoon the ruins of the party's East Java headquarters in Surabaya, which was burned to the ground during a massive demonstration on Feb. 7.

"My visit here is to witness the results of an action committed by people who disrespect the Constitution, law and democracy. Therefore, we sincerely wish that the law enforcers will uphold justice," he said as quoted by Antara.

Golkar's East Java chief Ridwan Hisyam and several party executives, including Syamsul Muarif and Irsyad Sudiro, accompanied Akbar.

A crowd numbering in the hundreds attacked the office on Feb. 7 as a wave of anti-Golkar feeling turned violent in East Java. The mob set the office and some parked vehicles on fire, despite the presence of the security forces.

Thirteen people were arrested by the police on arson and vandalism charges.

The anti-Golkar action took place after the House of Representatives (DPR) censured President Abdurrahman Wahid for his alleged role in two financial scandals.

Golkar, the ruling party during the 32 years of the authoritarian New Order regime between 1966 and 1998, has set up a team to investigate the arson attack.

"Golkar's investigating team will assist the police by providing evidence related to this case," Akbar said.

Akbar dismissed allegations that certain elements in Golkar had masterminded the attack.

"That's a baseless accusation. It would be impossible for Golkar members to do such a thing. It's totally absurd to suggest that we would destroy our own office," said Akbar, who is also the House Speaker.

When asked whether the vandalism directed at Golkar assets was the result of political maneuvers by House members against the President, Akbar replied: "What the DPR did was merely to exercise its control function as mandated by the Constitution."

"The DPR cannot dismiss the President and vice versa. It is the MPR (People's Consultative Assembly) that is empowered to unseat a president," he said.

Akbar also expressed concern that Abdurrahman had failed to display appropriate regret for the incidents but had rather blamed Golkar and urged the party to engage in introspection instead. (edt)