Fahmi, Marzuki beat Golkar

Fahmi, Marzuki beat Golkar

JAKARTA: The West Jakarta District Court decided on Tuesday in
favor of Golkar politicians Fahmi Idris and Marzuki Darusman, who
had filed a lawsuit against the party over its dismissal of them.

In their verdict, the panel of judges said the party decision
to fire the two politicians was not legitimate because it was
made in violation of the party's statutes.

The statutes spell out three steps that must be taken when
dismissing party executives, one of which being they would be
given 30 days to correct any error they had made. The two were
axed in about 10 days after openly supporting President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono in defiance of the party's dictates.

The procedure requires the party leaders to issue the first
and second official reprimands before they can convene to fire
errant party members.

The judges also said Golkar failed to give Fahmi and Marzuki a
chance to defend themselves. Golkar leaders have to rehabilitate
the two executive's reputation and announce it in Kompas daily
for three consecutive days. -- Antara