Golkar dissenters name party, delay its declaration

Golkar dissenters name party, delay its declaration

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar dissenters failed on Tuesday to make good
on their plan to establish a new party on Dec. 15, but said in
any case it would be named the Justice and Unity Party.

The group instead decided to establish a 44-member committee
to deal with some "technicalities" before the party can be
launched just prior to the new political bills -- currently under
deliberation in the House of Representatives -- being passed on
Jan. 28.

Committee chairman Gen. (ret) Edi Sudradjat told a media
conference: "There are several things we have to settle before we
can declare the new party. After all, establishing a party is not
as easy as rolling off a log."

Attending the conference were former senior members of Golkar,
including former House speaker Wahono, former state minister of
youth and sports Hayono Isman, former state minister of
environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, former Armed Forces (ABRI)
legislator Lt. Gen. (ret) Syaiful Sulun, former Deputy Army Chief
of Staff Lt. Gen. (ret) Surjadi and economist Sri Edi Swasono.

Asked about former vice president Try Sutrisno's absence from
the event, Edi said Try was only a supporter of the new party.

Try was among those who initiated the new party's setting-up.
Along with nearly 100 other discontented members of Golkar, Try
and Edi signed earlier this month the declaration of the
establishment of the new party.

Edi, a former minister of defense, dismissed speculation that
the new party was to rival Golkar which had for decades been the
dominant political grouping that perpetuated former president
Soeharto's New Order regime.

"This is completely a new party. It has nothing to do with
Golkar," he said.

Noting the new party may not be able to secure a big vote in
next year's general election, Edi spoke of the possibility of
forming a coalition with other political parties.

"We'll form a coalition with other political parties, which
have similar goals and aspirations to ours," he said. The
aspirations he mentioned included its commitment to safeguarding
the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Declaration of
Independence.

Tatto S. Pradjamanggala, secretary of the committee, said the
new party would be "delighted" if it could secure five percent of
the total votes in next June's election.

When asked about the status of some of its members, who are
also members of the Armed Forces Big Family (KBA), he said they
joined the PKP as individuals.

"They have joined PKP not as Armed Forces Veterans Association
(Pepabri) members, but as individuals," he said.

Edi said these members were free to channel their aspirations
through any political parties of their choice.

Edi was referring to a recommendation issued in a two-day
meeting of the KBA last September, which gave members of the
Armed Forces Family freedom to choose any political parties.

Also during the media conference, Edi dismissed suggestions
the new party would name him as its candidate in the presidential
election next year.

"No, we have not talked about any presidential nomination yet.
We are busy discussing the declaration of our new party," he
said.

Indra Bambang Utoyo, a party official, said that despite not
yet being officially established, the new party has already set
up chapters in 21 provinces.

"We have already opened 21 regional chapters in cooperation
with the Movement for Indonesian Justice and Unity (GKPB) and
chairmen of several Golkar chapters, who are also members of the
veterans association," he said.

The Movement for Indonesian Justice and Unity, proclaimed in
Jakarta last August, has established representative offices in 16
provinces, while several Golkar chapters, whose chairmen are
veterans, have supported the establishment of the new party. (imn)