Golkar introduces its new outlook

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)