Golkar introduces its new outlook

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie was conspicuously absent from Golkar's 34th anniversary reception on Tuesday, where chairman Akbar Tandjung and leaders of the dominant political grouping ignored public calls to apologize for past political mistakes.

Akbar, instead, marked the celebration with an introduction of what he claimed would be a new Golkar, independent from the Armed Forces (ABRI) and the bureaucracy which had for three decades been its main pillars.

"This new Golkar paradigm will be symbolically launched when it declares itself the Golkar Party in time for next year's general election," Akbar told a gathering of 2.000 Golkar officials and members at the Jakarta Convention Center.

He promised Golkar would be an open and independent political party. It would be open to "all Indonesians from different racial and religious groups," he said.

"Golkar is disassociating itself from its structural relationship with the bureaucracy and Armed Forces," he said. "Golkar has also abolished its board of patrons, which hampered its independence in the past."

Former president Soeharto was for decades the all-powerful chief patron of the political grouping. Habibie was also once a member of the board.

After Soeharto resigned and Habibie assumed power in May, the board was dissolved and replaced by the council of advisors, of which Habibie was chairman. The three-day leadership meeting that ended on Monday, however, decided to dismiss Habibie from the council.

Soeharto was another absentee from Tuesday's celebration. Last year he asked Golkar leaders whether it was true the people still wanted him to be their president for a seventh consecutive term. To this question, the Golkar leaders yelled "True!"

Present at the ceremony on Tuesday were former chairmen Amir Murtono, Wahono and Harmoko, chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council A.A. Baramuli, and cabinet ministers Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Haryono Suyono, Hartarto Sastrosoenarto, Justika Sjarifudin Baharsjah, Theo L. Sambuaga, Hasan Basri Durin and Agung Laksono.

Also present were Attorney General Andi Muhammad Ghalib, United Development Party (PPP) chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum, Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) chairman Budi Hardjono, and several foreign ambassadors.

Apology

Political observers blasted on Tuesday Golkar's insistence that it did not need to apologize for applying a political system that had led to a concentration of power in Soeharto's hands.

Rector of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University, Ichlasul Amal, said apologies were what Golkar needed to distinguish "the new Golkar" from the old.

"Golkar should have followed the example of a Japanese prime minister, who apologized to Asian nations for Japan's past mistakes in World War II, although he personally was not involved in the war," he told reporters on Tuesday.

Rector of the Purwokerto-based Jenderal Soedirman State University in Central Java, Rubiyanto Misman, agreed that not only were apologies in order but they would also help improve Golkar's image.

"It'll be a sympathetic gesture if Golkar publicly asks for the nation's forgiveness," he said.

Ichlasul, however, said he was not surprised that Golkar still backed the Armed Forces' (ABRI) dual function.

"It's understandable because the new Golkar still has a connection with the old Golkar... many retired ABRI officers are active members and officials of Golkar."

Despite signs of dissent from within, Golkar still enjoyed on Tuesday a declaration of support from notable figures such as former vice president Try Sutrisno.

Try, who now chairs the Armed Forces Retired Servicemen Association (Pepabri), said he would remain in Golkar and continue to help the political organization develop.

"I will remain committed to Golkar's basic idealism," he said.

Try, who together with 16 other officials was installed as "Golkar elders", said he welcomed Golkar's new paradigm and vision.

Asked about several Pepabri members who had joined other political parties, Try said they had the freedom to join any party they wanted.

"Pepabri will not mobilize its members to support any political party," he said.

Political observer Soehardjo S.S. of the Semarang-based Diponegoro University said it was unrealistic for Golkar to set a high target for next year's general election.

"Golkar's elite should not dream of winning big next year. It will not be able to secure more than 30 percent of the votes, not the 50 percent claimed by deputy chairman Abdul Gafur," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"The fact that Golkar is now the target of public criticism for its past mistakes will also cause a decline in its vote earning potential next year," he said.

He said that Golkar would also face serious challenges from several new political parties -- the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction under Megawati Soekarnoputri. (imn/har/23/45)