Factional strife reflects Golkar's chaotic system'

Factional strife reflects Golkar's chaotic system'

SEMARANG (JP): Factional strife within the dominant political
organization, Golkar, has escalated so much that it can no longer
hide it, political observers said yesterday.

In separate interviews with The Jakarta Post, Riswandha Imawan
and Susilo Utomo said the bickering may have an adverse, albeit
small, impact on Golkar's showing in next year's general
election.

"The factional conflicts reflect the chaotic system within
Golkar," said Riswandha, a political scholar from Yogyakarta's
Gadjah Mada University.

At present it is difficult to see which alliance or alliances
control Golkar because its system is closed, he said.

Internal conflict has shaken MKGR and Kosgoro, two of Golkar's
powerful political factions.

The bickering within MKGR was triggered by the refusal of its
chief, Mien Sugandhi, to recognize last month's election of
Tantyo Sudharmono as chairman of its youth wing.

Mien, who admitted to having her own preference for the
disputed post, argued that Tantyo -- son of former vice president
Sudharmono -- was elected in a process full of procedural flaws.

The group has agreed to solve the dispute, which made front-
page headlines in local newspapers and was brought to President
Soeharto's attention, in a "familial dialog" scheduled for
Saturday.

Furious Kosgoro officials also had their frustration exposed
to the public when they called a media meeting last month to let
off steam after only 30 of their leaders were included on
Golkar's list of legislative candidates. After the 1992 election,
Golkar had 65 Kosgoro politicians in the House of
Representatives.

Other Golkar factions like SOKSI and MKGR are also reportedly
dismayed by the reduced number of their politicians on Golkar's
legislative candidate list.

Riswandha pointed out that the emergence of Army generals with
scathing criticism of some of the government's policies is
complicating Golkar's problems.

The Army founded Golkar in 1964 to counterbalance the growing
influence of the Indonesian Communist Party, which was outlawed
for its involvement in the bloody coup attempt in 1965.

"The generals' critical statements are obvious signs of strife
within the political elite," he said. He pointed out that some
officials gave statements which exposed weaknesses in the
bureaucracy.

"Some statements were of so low quality they should not have
been made by political players," Riswandha said.

Meanwhile, Susilo Utomo said the surfacing conflicts within
Golkar factions have caused the public to wonder what actually is
happening within the ruling organization.

"The factional conflicts, such as the one riddling MKGR, will
have an insignificant affect on Golkar's performance in the 1997
election," said the scholar from Diponegoro University. (har/pan)