Golkar planning to use teachers in poll campaign

JAKARTA (JP): State school teachers may well see their already-heavy burdens mount prior to the May 29 general election as they will probably have to speak at rallies held by the dominant political grouping Golkar.

Bogor mayor Eddy Garnida, in his capacity as chairman of the regency's Golkar branch advisory board, said he wanted local teachers to speak for Golkar during the April 27 through May 23 campaign.

Many other Golkar figures across the country are expected to follow Eddy's lead in demanding teachers' assistance during the campaign.

The Kompas daily quoted Eddy on Wednesday as saying that teachers' help would ensure a Golkar victory in the regency.

The policy received a great deal of criticism yesterday, with deputy chairwoman of the government-backed Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Fatimah Achmad branding the policy lamentable.

"Teachers must be politically neutral because they are the people students will emulate," she said.

Teachers make up half of the six-million-strong Civil Servant Corps, whose members are obligated to channel their political aspirations through Golkar.

President Soeharto said last week that civil servants do not have political responsibilities but only a moral accountability to serve the public well.

Fatimah agreed with the President, saying that teachers should stick to their mission to educate students. "Instead of involving themselves in politics, teachers have to guide their students to (strive for) democracy and openness," she said.

A legislator of the United Development Party (PPP), Hadimulyo, reiterated that teachers are currently preparing their students for their final exams.

"Let the teachers carry out their main jobs. Give them a chance to improve their quality, because they play a pivotal role in preparing our future generations," he said.

Hadimulyo, also an education observer, said that Golkar was looking for another landslide victory this year by using all means at its disposal. Golkar has won the last five elections convincingly.

"They (Golkar) have a lot of smart politicians. Why should they ask teachers to speak at rallies?" asked Hadimulyo.

The Indonesian teachers' hymn hails the professionals as "national heroes and heroines without medals," but many of them have seen their salaries cut for various reasons.

The official in charge of Golkar's election-winning team, Rully Chairul Azwar, admitted that the organization would recruit teachers to realize its campaign goals.

"If they are capable of doing after-school jobs, they can do them without having to sacrifice their main duties," Rully said.

He said other political groups were allowed to set up similar policies.

Rully denied that Golkar had imposed a political burden on the teachers. "They do not have to bear such burdens when they are at school," he said. (amd)