Basyuni wants teachers to remain loyal

Basyuni wants teachers to remain loyal

JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of the Indonesian Teachers
Association (PGRI) told the organization's 1.4 million members
that they must stay loyal to the ruling political group Golkar.

Basyuni Suriamihardja added that PGRI members should remember
that they pledged allegiance to Golkar at this year's congress.

"All PGRI's members must obey the decisions of the
association's congress, including their commitment to support
Golkar," Basyuni told reporters.

Basyuni was clarifying earlier press reports that last week
he said the association's members could freely choose any
political organization they liked.

He maintained, however, that the PGRI is not affiliated with
any political organization.

Basyuni had previously denied allegations that the association
coerces its members to support Golkar.

He dismissed allegations that teachers could not hope for
promotion if they supported the United Development Party or the
Indonesian Democratic Party.

"PGRI members vowed they would channel their aspirations
through Golkar," he said Saturday.

"The decision (to support Golkar) has been reaffirmed in every
congress since 1973," Basyuni was quoted by the Antara news
agency as saying.

He stressed that the congress' was the highest authority in
the association and its decisions must be followed by all
members.

The Indonesian Teacher's Association was established on Nov.
25, 1945, in an attempt to improve education and to fight for
better conditions for teachers across the nation.

Some 1.4 million of Indonesia's 1.7 million teachers have
become members. Membership is voluntary. (imn)