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)