Golkar declares record win

From: The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar proclaimed its victory yesterday in Thursday's general election, pointing out that the landslide win further legitimized the New Order government and reflected public endorsement of the political and electoral systems.

Golkar chairman Harmoko told a news conference that allegations of widespread vote-rigging had little impact on the party's record victory.

"The problems occurred in only one or two areas. Set against the 305,000 polling stations nationwide, the alleged problems at some stations were understandably normal," Harmoko said.

The United Development Party (PPP), alleging widespread vote- rigging and intimidation, has demanded that polling in Sampang, Jember, Gowa, Sidrap, Polmas and many regencies in West Sumatra be repeated.

In Jember, Moslem leaders supporting the PPP threatened "there would be unwanted incidents" if the authorities refused their demands for a revote.

Jember regent Winarno acknowledged there had been cases of vote-rigging but refused to hold voting again because "there was no law on which to base such a repetition".

With ballot counting completed in 23 of the 27 provinces yesterday, Golkar had won 82.39 million, or 74.27 percent, of the 110.93 million votes counted (89 percent of the ballots due to have been cast by 124.7 million registered voters), the United Development Party (PPP) had 25.13 million, or 22.66 percent, and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) had 3.40 million, or 3.07 percent.

Harmoko, also the minister of information, said the high voter turnout of almost 90 percent of registered voters proved that people throughout the country favored continued development in a peaceful and stable climate.

"The people reject radical, brutal and violent conduct in continuing development," he said referring to the violence and rioting in several provinces during the campaign and on election day.

Generally speaking, he said, Golkar considered that this year's general election -- the seventh since Indonesia proclaimed its independence on Aug. 17, 1945 -- had significantly improved the quality of people's political education and communication.

Dismissed

Harmoko dismissed analysts' claims that the violence in the weeks leading up to the election, which left more than 260 people dead and a trail of damage across the country, was caused by growing dissatisfaction with the government.

The National Elections Institute's secretary, Suryatna Subrata, announced yesterday that ballot counting was continuing in Jakarta with ballots cast by Indonesians overseas yet to be counted.

He said final tallies had yet to be completed in Irian Jaya and East Timor because of transportation problems.

He said counting in East Java could not be completed because the National Elections Committee, at the request of the chiefs of district elections committees, had decided to let people vote again tomorrow at 121 polling stations in Sampang and Pamekasan districts on Madura island, off East Java.

Voters rampaged in Sampang and Pamekasan on election day and last Friday over allegations of vote-rigging.

But Suryatna dismissed the notion that voting would be held again because of allegations of cheating. He said it was because security disturbances had stopped voters casting their ballots peacefully and orderly.

Harmoko also denied allegations that the revote on Madura island had anything to do with pressure from the Moslem-based PPP, whose supporters rioted last Thursday and Friday.

PPP and the Independent Election Monitoring Committee have reported widespread vote-rigging and fraud on election day.

Harmoko said a revote was needed simply because many ballot boxes had been burned.

"So to complete the vote count it was agreed that balloting should be rerun," he said, adding that Golkar had also agreed to voting again in Madura.

Harmoko, who was jubilant about Golkar's landslide win, was accompanied at the press conference by most of the party's leaders, including deputy chairwoman Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana and secretary-general Ary Mardjono.

Charting out Golkar's future tasks, Harmoko said the party was even more committed and determined to realize the people's wishes and aspirations for reforms and reformation of the nationhood and statehood.

"Golkar's victory means a win for development," he said.

He defined development as a gradual process of change and reform for the public's welfare.

"That is why I should state that Golkar's win is a victory for the course of change and reform according to the pace as called for by the democratic system based on the state ideology Pancasila", he said.

But Harmoko cautioned Golkar's rank and file against inordinate rejoicing and complacency over the record victory, reminding them that the win meant the party had a bigger responsibility to strive for the aspirations of the people and continue national development. (aan/nur)

JP/Golkar declares record win