Australians learn how Golkar gets votes

JAKARTA (JP): Visiting members of the Australian College of Strategic Studies met with executives from the ruling Golkar yesterday to exchange information and discover how Golkar executives worked voluntarily without salary.

Their questions were met with a smile by Golkar Secretary General Ary Mardjono and other executives who explained that they did not receive any pay for their party work.

They explained that it was only the secretariat staff, numbering 215 people, who received wages.

As reported by Antara, the Australian delegation was led by the College's director Commodore Simon Harrington. They are here on a study tour of southeast Asian countries.

During the meeting yesterday the Australian delegates learned about Indonesia's political system and the role played by Golkar.

Delegates also met deputy secretary general Theo Sambuaga and executive members Abdul Gafur, Burhan D. Magenda and Marwah Daud Ibrahim.

The Australian delegation was interested in learning more about Golkar's campaign techniques for soliciting voters, said Theo.

Golkar used the principle of "sekasur, sedapur, sesumur" (one bed, one kitchen and one well), said Ary. This meant that soliciting support began at home with the wife and children, then with family members followed by people in the surrounding neighborhood.

"Just as Golkar's chief patron, Soeharto, said, if the technique sekasur, sedapur, sesumur is applied properly, then there would probably be no need for Golkar to campaign anymore to win the election," Ary said.

Golkar has dominated past elections and is expected to win by a comfortable majority in the 1997 general elections. (mds)