Golkar Party enlists ex-servicemen

Golkar Party enlists ex-servicemen

Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Embattled former ruling party Golkar has recruited a number of
retired police and military officers into its ranks, which
analysts described as a move to maintain or even improve its
performance in the 2004 general elections.

The party has recruited to its colors Jakarta Police chief
Insp. Gen. (ret) Noegroho Djajoesman, former coordinator of
expert advisors to the Indonesian Military commander, Maj. Gen.
(ret) I.G.N. Arcana, and former Jakarta deputy governor Abdul
Kahfi.

Theo L. Sambuaga, one of Golkar's deputy chairpersons, told
The Jakarta Post on Saturday that it was the desire of the
retired officers to join the party, and not the party who enticed
them to join.

Nevertheless, Theo said, it was not just former military and
police officers who had recently joined the party, but also
businesspeople, lawyers and former diplomats.

Theo said these people were recruited because they were close
to Golkar and had achievements that the party could count on.

"This proves that Golkar is still attractive to many people
although we often have different opinions among our leaders. It
also shows that having different opinions is something normal and
gives a sense of democracy. That makes the party attractive," he
said.

Theo was apparently referring to differences of opinion among
Golkar executives about the leadership of Akbar Tandjung over
Golkar as well as the House of Representatives following Akbar's
conviction by the Central Jakarta District Court of
misappropriating Rp 40 billion (US$4.5 million) of public funds.

Theo, in fact, is one of the Golkar leaders who have asked
Akbar to step down as the leader both of Golkar and the House.
Other party leaders with the same opinion are Marwah Daud
Ibrahim, Fahmi Idris and Agung Laksono.

Political analysts J. Kristiadi and Denny J.A. saw Golkar's
recruitment of retired military and police officers as a move to
anticipate the 2004 election.

However, the two analysts differed on the possible effects on
the party's performance in 2004.

Kristiadi of the Centre for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) said the recruitment of retired security officials
could even make Golkar even look bad in the eyes of the people.

"It's a mistake to chose persons who have no selling points
anymore instead of recruiting members of the younger generation
who are broad-minded and have wider perspectives.

"It's just Golkar stupidity. It will make the party more
isolated from the people. First, it already has a convicted
leader, and now it is becoming militaristic," he said.

Kristiadi also said that Golkar's maneuver also showed that
civilian politicians were still regarded as being inferior to the
military.

Denny J.A. from Jayabaya University, however, differed and
said the entrance of retired military and police officers into
Golkar showed that they had submitted themselves to civilian
leadership, the leadership of Akbar in Golkar.

He said the presence of retired officers would improve the
party's image before the public, but not before non-governmental
organization activists.

"The military is a symbol of security. People will support a
party that can give a feeling of security as the realm of
politics after the Bali bombings and the international war on
terrorism has placed Muslims, or the majority of Indonesians, in
a delicate position," Denny said.

However, Denny considered that Golkar's decision would be
unpopular among activists. He contended that most NGOs were
opposed to the military regaining its political power.