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)