Golkar branches hold congresses

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar activists in various provinces are holding congresses to elect their new leaders and to discuss strategies to survive stiffer competition in the general election next year.

In Medan, North Sumatra, Golkar chief Akbar Tandjung opened the local chapter's congress on Wednesday, during which he assured civil servants that they were no longer required to vote for Golkar.

"This is Golkar's stance now," he said, adding that further details, however, would be worked out when the House of Representatives deliberated the new bill on political parties in the near future.

The bill, which is yet to be submitted to the House, stipulates, for instance, that a civil servant may support and join any party. However, a civil servant will not be able to maintain certain structural positions in the bureaucracy if he is a functionary of the party.

Akbar also expressed confidence that despite the emergence of new political parties, Golkar would fare well in the elections. When asked whether Golkar aspired to obtain a certain percentage of the vote, Akbar said: "No, there's no such goal. We will just pay real attention to what the people want."

In previous elections under former president Soeharto's regime, Golkar was often accused of being a political machine to perpetuate his power. The dominant political grouping was also accused of justifying any means to maintain its majority position.

In the North Sumatra chapter congress which will also end on Friday, there are two strong contenders for the chair: Zainuddin Tanjung and Yunus Harahap. Chapter executives said they did not want additional contenders for fear of causing friction.

Activists in East Kalimantan said in the capital Samarinda on Tuesday that they were confident they would win in the elections despite the challenge from newly established parties.

"I am confident that Golkar will get more than 50 percent of the vote in East Kalimantan," said Golkar chapter chairman Harsono on Tuesday. "Golkar is indeed facing a great challenge, because the 1999 general election will be contested by many parties and because, in this reform era, Golkar is in a disadvantageous position.

"Many people blame Golkar for the economic crisis. It's not true. Of course there were Golkar cadres involved in corruption, collusion and nepotistic practices, but certainly not all," he said as quoted by Antara news agency. The chapter opened its congress on Wednesday and will end it on Friday when it elects a new chair.

In Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh, some 70 students of Ar- Raniry Darussalam State Institute of Islamic Studies demanded that rector Sofwan Idris choose between his Golkar position and his rectorship.

"If you want to keep on being our rector, please, relinquish your position in the Golkar chapter for the 1998/2000 term," student Kautsar said in a demonstration at the campus.

The students said they could not accept their rector being a Golkar leader because they believed the organization was to blame for the alleged military atrocities in Aceh over the past nine years.

Sofwan said it was his individual right to become a party member, just as it was the students' right to join other parties.

The East Nusa Tenggara chapter of Golkar concluded its congress on Tuesday night, electing Daniel Woda Palle as its new chairman for 1998/2003 to replace J.N. Manafe.

In Surabaya, the East Java chapter congress elected Col. (ret) Soetomo as its new chairman on Tuesday.

Comment

In Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, political observer Cornelis Lay from Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University predicted that within the next two months, Golkar would split and give birth to new political parties.

"I have seen strong indications toward that development," he said as quoted by Antara. "This will undermine Golkar's chance in the elections."

He pointed out how some Golkar seniors had established their own organizations, such as Siswono Yudohusodo and Sarwono Kusumaatmadja who have formed the Movement for Justice and National Unity, and in all likelihood would develop them into political parties.

"They used to be among those with a strong commitment toward Golkar, and now they are forming new parties out of disappointment with Golkar," he said.

In addition, Golkar is being abandoned en mass by those who perceive it as among those responsible for the economic crisis, he said.

"There is a serious and systematic effort to erode Golkar. It won't obtain more than 20 percent of the vote in the elections, and that is an optimistic estimate," he said.

In the May 1997 elections, Golkar won 74 percent of the vote. (swe/21)