Children of retired servicemen pledge loyalty to Golkar

JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of an association grouping children of retired service personnel have pledged their allegiance to Golkar and ordered all their members to vote for the ruling political group next year's general election.

"It's clear that FKPPI's aspirations lie with Golkar," Bambang Trihatmodjo, chairman of the Forum of Communication of Children of Retired Service Personnel (FKPPI), told reporters at the conclusion of the group's leadership meeting Friday night.

Bambang, the second son of President Soeharto and chief executive officer of the diversified Bimantara business group, said all FKPPI members are obliged to vote for Golkar and that the organization will ensure they do, although the election is by secret ballot, Antara reported.

Golkar, which is contesting the election next year against the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), has won all the five general elections held since 1971, each time with landslide majorities.

With the 1997 election approaching, many organizations have declared their support for Golkar.

Last week, the influential Corps of Civil Servants (KORPRI), ordered its six million members to cast their votes for Golkar. The previous month, Pemuda Pancasila, a powerful youth organization, also pledged its allegiance to the dominant political group.

Under Bambang's leadership, FKPPI has become even more influential within Golkar, and many of its leaders have been recruited as candidates to represent Golkar in next year's elections.

On Friday night, Bambang was flanked by other executives of the FKPPI central board, including Secretary-General Indra Bambang Oetoyo, Yapto Soeryosoemarno, Didiet Haryadi, Ralie Siregar, Chairul Azwar and Pontjo Sutowo during the meeting with reporters.

Indra said FKPPI would not tolerate any of its members joining either PPP or PDI.

"Those who join the political parties will have their membership of FKPPI rescinded," Indra said. "It wouldn't look right if I serve for Golkar and there are others in FKPPI who serve PPP or PDI," he added.

Both Indra and Bambang currently serve on Golkar's central executive board.

Vote for Golkar

A final declaration read at the end of the FKPPI leadership meeting appealed to all members and cadres to vote for Golkar to ensure that the national leadership remains in the hands of the New Order.

The New Order refers to the administrations of President Soeharto since 1967 and is used to distinguish it from the Old Order of President Sukarno.

"Success in the 1997 election will guarantee the existence of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia," according to the declaration read by Chamsiah B. Paliudju, chairperson of the Central Sulawesi Chapter and wife of the province's governor.

The statement denounced "antiestablishment" forces which use democracy, human rights and environmental issues as pretexts to further their goals and to justify their "undemocratic, unconstitutional and illegal acts."

"They work by setting one group against another, by agitating people to become antigovernment and by undermining the unity and cohesion of the nation," according to the statement.

FKPPI also urged the government to confer the title of "National Heroine" on the late first lady, Mrs. Fatimah Siti Hartinah Soeharto, on the occasion of Hero's Day on Nov. 10. (emb)