Golkar fires Jusuf Kalla as party advisor

Golkar fires Jusuf Kalla as party advisor

Kurniawan Hari and Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta/Semarang

The Golkar Party dismissed Jusuf Kalla, a member of the party and
the running mate of election front-runner Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono, from his post as a Golkar advisor on Wednesday, and
suspended the membership of 11 other party members indefinitely
for refusing to support Megawati Soekarnoputri in Monday's
election runoff.

The 11 suspended Golkar politicians are Fahmi Idris, Marzuki
Darusman, Burhanuddin Napitupulu, Juniwati Sofwan, Abu Hasan
Sazili, Anton Lesiangi, Priyo Budi Santoso, Abu Hanifah, Yoeslin
Nasution, Edison Betaubun and Firman Soebagyo.

"All of them will be given a chance to defend themselves
before Golkar's Central Executive Board soon," Golkar secretary-
general Budi Harsono told The Jakarta Post here on Wednesday
afternoon.

Budi said their stance during the executive board hearings
would determine whether further action would be taken against
them. No specific date has been set for the hearings.

Golkar, whose presidential candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto was
eliminated in the first round of the presidential election, has
officially thrown its support behind President Megawati, who is
seeking a full five-year mandate in the election runoff.

The party has also formed a lose coalition with Megawati's
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the United
Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) to
boost Megawati's chances in the election.

Despite the political pact, many Golkar leaders have openly
expressed their support for Susilo, a retired four-star Army
general, prompting Golkar's Central Executive Board (DPP) to take
action against them.

The decision to dismiss Kalla from his advisor's post and
suspend 11 other party members was taken during a plenary meeting
of Golkar's executive board that lasted from 10:30 p.m. on
Tuesday to 4:20 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

Of 47 Golkar executive members attending the meeting, 29 of
them called for severe sanctions to be imposed on the dissidents.
The other members supported the decision.

In Semarang, Central Java, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said
that the 11 politicians had been suspended as they had rejected
the party's political line.

Akbar said that the maneuvers by Fahmi and his allies,
especially their forming of the Golkar Reform Forum (FPPG), could
damage the party's unity.

As for the dismissal of Kalla from his advisor's post, Akbar
and Budi said that Kalla often organized meetings with Golkar
members without giving prior notice to Golkar's executive board.

Golkar deputy chairman Agung Laksono told the press that the
party would also review the position of Fahmi as chairman of the
Golkar Faction in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

"We will discuss the consequences of the suspension in more
detail," Agung said, adding that the party had warned the 11
politicians twice, on Sept. 2 and Sept. 8 respectively.

Responding to the decision by the executive board, Kalla said
that it was an overreaction. He also questioned which party rules
he had violated.

He said that Golkar's decision to remove him from the party
advisory board and suspend 11 other members was a clear emulation
of the New Order's repressive approach.

Kalla acknowledged that he was present at the establishment of
the Golkar Reform Forum. However, he claimed that he was only a
guest, not a founding member.

Political analyst J. Kristiadi said that Golkar's decision
clearly showed the arrogance of Golkar's leaders, and their
disregard for the views of grassroots members.