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.