Dominance of Golkar to remain vital: Gus Dur
Dominance of Golkar to remain vital: Gus Dur
JAKARTA (JP): Abdurrahman Wahid predicts that Golkar's
dominant role in politics will remain important to prevent
problems around the time of the general elections next year.
The chairman of Indonesia's largest Moslem organization,
Nahdlatul Ulama, said the position of "single majority", which is
currently occupied by Golkar, should be maintained so that the
1997 general election and the 1998 presidential election can
proceed smoothly.
"I expect that the gathering of the People's Consultative
Assembly to elect a president will be rather chaotic because of a
number of factors," Abdurrahman, a critical political observer,
who is known as Gus Dur, said.
One crucial problem is whether President Soeharto, given his
age, is willing to be nominated for another term, Abdurrahman
said.
Soeharto, 74 years old, has been elected for six consecutive
five-year terms.
Backed by the bureaucracy and the military, Golkar has won all
of the previous five general elections. In the most recent
election in 1992, it won 68 percent of the votes.
Abdurrahman pointed out that some Assembly members will want
to see other candidates emerge, but will be concerned about their
qualifications.
In addition, there will be debates about whether the next
president should be a civilian or someone with a military
background, he was quoted by Antara as saying on Thursday.
"All those problems will be solved if the majority position is
retained. Golkar needs to see to it that those problems are
handled," he said.
State Minister for Women's Roles Mien Sugandhi, who is a
leading Golkar member, said in Semarang yesterday that Golkar's
dominant position should be maintained in order to safeguard
national development.
Mien is among the many cabinet ministers who double as Golkar
leaders. Recently, they have been traveling to the provinces to
tend to official matters as well as to hold rallies with Golkar
supporters.
Executives of the two minority parties -- the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) and the United Development Party (PPP) --
have often protested against Golkar rallies as premature
campaigning.
PDI chief Megawati Soekarnoputri, for instance, said in Malang
on Thursday that she envied Golkar chairman Harmoko for all of
the financial resources and facilities at his disposal every time
he goes to meet the group's supporters across the country.
"We should learn from Golkar leaders, and find out where they
get all this money and facilities. I know PDI can do it too," she
was quoted by Antara as saying.
She said the three recognized political groups -- Golkar, PDI
and PPP -- should have "equal rights and status" as guaranteed by
law. (swe)