Golkar considers dismissing Irian Jaya legislators

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar's top leaders in Irian Jaya are considering a crackdown on its recalcitrant legislators who failed to vote for the faction's own candidate during last month's council speaker election.

Chief of Golkar's Irian Jaya branch, Bima, said in Jayapura yesterday that he would consult with the party's central board of executives on whether the legislators could be dismissed.

"Sanctions will be imposed on those who do not obey the organization's policies," Bima warned. "If the central board approves the action, we will dismiss them."

He said the "guilty" legislators would then undergo "special training to improve their political knowledge" from the Golkar office, after being recalled from their council posts.

According to Bima, an internal investigation is now underway.

Bima was an unlikely loser in a race for council speaker against his Armed Forces faction rival, Robert Sitorus, on July 25. The Armed Forces, whose members do not vote, had nine seats reserved for it.

Despite the fact Golkar held a majority of seats with 32, Bima lost 9-27 in the voting. Many Golkar legislators apparently voted against their own candidate.

Golkar legislators then boycotted Sitorus' induction last week, following an order from the party's central board sent by fax by deputy chairman Moechtar.

The rift was apparently settled on Monday when all Golkar legislators attended Sitorus' rescheduled installation ceremony.

Bima said a split within Golkar showed dynamism in the council, but deplored the fact that the move cost the party its organizational unity.

"Unity and cohesiveness play a pivotal role in Golkar's attempt to maintain its interests and credibility," Bima said, as quoted by Antara.

Support of disciplinary action against deserting Golkar legislators came yesterday from a tribal group which affiliates itself with Golkar. It called for an overhaul of the faction's office in the province.

"Without drastic changes in personnel, more serious problems will hit the organization in the future," group leader Theys Eluay said.

Eluay, who is also chief of the Sentani tribe, said the overhaul was necessary to help the province's Golkar leadership reaffirm members' allegiance.

"Those who broke party rules deserve to be heavily punished for the sake of Golkar pride and continuity of development in the province," he said.

Eluay was secretary of a 1969 United Nations committee in the province which determined that Irian Jaya would be part of the Republic of Indonesia. He has been a Golkar legislator since 1977. (amd)