Dissenting Golkar leaders ignore order
Kurniawan Hari and Luh Putu Trisna Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta/Mataram
Golkar politicians suspended from the party for refusing to back Megawati Soekarnoputri in Monday's presidential election runoff, continued on Thursday in their activities in support of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The Golkar dissenters, led by Fahmi Idris and Marzuki Darusman, hosted a national meeting in Jakarta on Thursday to consolidate support for Susilo and running mate Jusuf Kalla.
Earlier, Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung and secretary-general Budi Harsono issued a letter warning all party members against attending the meeting organized by Fahmi and Marzuki.
Thursday's forum was attended by Burhanuddin Napitupulu, Abu Hasan Sazili, Abu Hanifah, Yoeslin Nasution and Juniwati Sofwan, all Golkar executives who were made non-active by the party's central board on Wednesday.
Former home affairs minister Syarwan Hamid, a retired three- star Army general, and businessman Sofyan Wanandi were also seen at the meeting.
All of those in attendance, about 250 in all, received pins bearing the pictures of Susilo and Kalla.
Kalla, who was invited to the forum, was unable to attend as he was at a campaign rally at the Senayan sports hall in Central Jakarta.
While the meeting was in progress at the Balai Sudirman Building in South Jakarta, a group of 30 people dressed in Golkar's yellow color staged a rally outside the venue.
The protesters denounced Fahmi and Marzuki for using Golkar attributes in their activities even though they had been suspended from the party.
Golkar dismissed Kalla as a party adviser and suspended Fahmi, Marzuki and nine others following a six-hour meeting of the party's central board on Wednesday.
The action was taken against the group for defying Golkar's official decision to support Megawati and running mate Hasyim Muzadi in the Sept. 20 runoff.
Golkar formed a coalition with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) to help Megawati win the presidential election.
Fahmi and his allies opposed the Nationhood Coalition, and set up the Golkar Reform Forum to solicit support for Susilo.
Speaking to journalists, Marzuki said he had yet to receive official notification of his suspension, so there was no reason not to go ahead with the meeting on Thursday.
"I do not care whether this meeting is considered illegal or not," said the former attorney general.
In a speech at the gathering, Fahmi dismissed the Nationhood Coalition that Golkar had formed, saying it was ineffective.
The recent election of East Java's new provincial legislature speaker is an example of the coalition's inability to exert its will, he added.
Ridwan Hisyam, a local Golkar leader, was defeated by a candidate from the National Awakening Party (PKB) for the position.
"It clearly shows that the coalition does not work," Fahmi said.
Akbar insisted on Thursday internal bickering within Golkar would not affect his party's support for Megawati in the election.
The decision to suspend Fahmi and his allies had the support of most of Golkar's regional chapters, Akbar claimed during a visit to the Syeh Zainuddin NW Anjani Islamic boarding school in East Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara.