Golkar Party told to refuse financial aid from Japan's LDP
Golkar Party told to refuse financial aid from Japan's LDP
JAKARTA (JP): The Golkar Party must return any financial aid
given by foreign donors, including that from Japan's ruling
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as this violates the new law
banning political parties from receiving foreign assistance,
Minister of Justice Muladi said on Tuesday.
"If it is true, the aid must be quickly returned," Muladi said
after meeting with President B.J. Habibie at Merdeka Palace.
On Friday, Golkar deputy chairman Abdul Gafur disclosed in
Tokyo that the supervising chairman of LDP, Yukihiko Ikeda, had
assured him that LDP was ready to give financial assistance to
Golkar's program to help Indonesian farmers.
Gafur's statement was reported by Suara Karya and Pelita
newspapers on Saturday. Gafur is general manager of the Pelita
daily. He had said LDP would channel its assistance after the
June general election "to avoid any uproar."
A few days later Jacob Tobing, chairman of the National
Elections Committee, demanded that the government investigate the
report, citing the new law. The United Development Party (PPP)
demanded a clarification from Golkar.
Suara Karya on Tuesday reported that Yasril Ananta Baharuddin,
a Golkar executive, said the party's trip to Japan was "an
invitation from LDP to discuss long-term cooperation in
empowering poor farmers in Indonesia," he said.
A Japanese official recently said Japan would avoid any sign
of favoritism ahead of the polls because it would only hurt its
own interests.
Meanwhile hospitals across Central Java have been instructed
to prepare to treat victims of campaign violence ahead of the
June polls.
Campaigning is scheduled from May 18 to June 4, but clashes
among supporters of different parties have already occurred. One
man died in Yogyakarta last week.
On Tuesday, the director of Karyadi General Hospital in
Semarang, Sulaeman, said the hospital was appointed coordinator
of 105 state and private hospitals in the province.
"We have notified and instructed each hospital to form special
teams to take care of possible victims," Sulaeman said.
Teams will be on 24-hour alert in emergency wards. They will
work with the provincial branch of the Indonesian Amateur Radio
Operators Organization. This would ensure that the injured could
be transferred to the nearest available hospital if a medical
facility was unable to provide treatment due to various reasons,
including patient overcrowding. Two ambulances would be on
standby at each hospital, he said.
Meanwhile, secretary of the provincial branch of the ruling
Golkar, Sutoyo Abadi, said about 1,500 party flags were damaged
and burned by supporters of other parties in several regencies.
He alleged security personnel did nothing to halt the
destruction although they were seen witnessing the acts.
(har/prb)