Experts warn Akbar against expelling party rebels

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Golkar Party has officially reprimanded all members who have defied the party's official decision to support Megawati Soekarnoputri in the presidential election runoff on Sept. 20.

Political analysts, however, warned the party against dismissing the defiant party executives, saying such a move would harm Golkar's image, adding that the party also needed the executives' service in the next House of Representatives.

Golkar member Ferry Mursyidan Baldan confirmed on Monday the party had issued a warning to executives to obey the party's decision to support Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI- P) presidential candidate Megawati in the runoff.

"This is not healthy. They were involved in the decision (to support Megawati) but they refuse to comply with it," he was quoted as saying by Antara.

Golkar has faced internal squabbling since its presidential candidate Wiranto lost in the first round of the presidential election in July.

A group of party executives, led by Marzuki Darusman, Fahmi Idris and Burhanuddin Napitupulu, recently formed the Golkar Reform Forum to challenge the party's policies in the election runoff. The forum also held several meetings with Jusuf Kalla, the running mate of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will face Megawati in the September runoff.

The creation of the forum came on the heels of Golkar's participation in the Nationhood Coalition, which also includes PDI-P, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS). The coalition has vowed to help Megawati win a full five-year mandate.

Golkar won the most votes in the April legislative election, followed by the PDI-P and the PPP.

Last week, Fahmi said he was prepared to be dismissed by Golkar.

Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung has vowed to take firm action against party members who defy the party's decision on Megawati. He also accused Kalla, who is a Golkar member, of disrupting party unity. Akbar had endorsed the nomination of Kalla as the running mate of Susilo before the first round of the presidential election.

Political observer Ikrar Nusa Bhakti said Akbar was facing a difficult time in dealing with the issue.

"If he fails to dismiss the defiant executives, all of the party members will consider him too lenient. But dismissing them would confirm the public's opinion that he does not favor change. It is quite a delicate challenge for him and the party," he told The Jakarta Post.

According to Ikrar, as party leader Akbar has the authority to take punitive measures against any party executive who challenges Golkar's policies.

"Party executives are bound to obey party decisions taken through a democratic manner," he said. "It would be different if Akbar threatened the party's rank and file who were not involved in the decision-making process."

However, Ikrar expressed doubt Akbar would dismiss the defiant executives because it would only affect his image and be counterproductive to the party, due to the fact that the challengers would still represent Golkar in the next House.

Fellow political observer Syamsuddin Haris agreed, saying dismissals were unlikely because the rejection to the Nationhood Coalition did not put the party's survival at stake.

"It would not be beneficial for Akbar to take that move," he said.

Syamsuddin suggested that Golkar members who disagreed with the party's decision quit and form a new party.

"If they think Golkar is not healthy, just go away. But I am not sure the executives would dare to build a new party, as the legislative election taught them it is not easy for the political elite to win the support of people at the grassroots level," he said.

Another political expert, Indria Samego, said the rift within Golkar was nothing more than "political dynamics".

"It is only a political ploy. It will not destroy Golkar. I do not think Akbar will dismiss those who defy the party's decision, as the party would also gain from a Susilo victory," he said.