Demand to dissolve Golkar rejected

Demand to dissolve Golkar rejected

JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Court on Monday hinted that it would
not process the demand by a group of five plaintiffs to dissolve
Golkar Party saying a similar lawsuit by another group is
currently being processed by the Central Jakarta District Court.

Deputy chief justice for military law, German Hudiarto, said
to avoid an overlapping with the lower court, the Supreme Court
decided not to accept the group's litigation against Golkar.

German, who spoke in his capacity as presiding judge in the
case, emphasized that the Supreme Court's decision was merely
aimed at upholding the law.

Early this year, the Democratic People's Party (PRD) and
several non-governmental organizations filed a class action
against Golkar. The schedule of the trial, however, has yet to be
set.

"It does not mean that your suit is being turned down,"
justice Hudiarto said during a meeting at his office with the
representatives of Group of 50, the Alliance Forum of Islamic
Parties, Committee of Alertness Against New Order, Marhaen
People's Movement, and Islamic Students Association (HMI MPO).

In their statement, read out by Muslim Community Party (PUI)
chairman Deliar Noer, the group demanded the dissolution of
Golkar for its political crimes during the New Order's 32 years
tenure and the trial of its leaders.

The Supreme Court is also urged not to allow Golkar members to
hold any position in the executive, legislative and judiciary
bodies for five years.

In order to avoid a prolonged legal process, Judilherry Justam
of the Committee of Alertness Against New Order, asked the
Supreme Court to take an extraordinary legal step against Golkar.

"This step is needed because we fear that the New Order will
return to power," Judilherry said.

Deliar regretted the Supreme Court's response. "It shows no
willingness to meet the people's aspirations," he said after the
meeting. (02)