Golkar rejects PDI call to amend electoral laws

JAKARTA (JP): The government-backed Golkar political organization has flexed its muscles by rejecting calls from the minority Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) for political reforms, including changes in the electoral laws.

Leaders of Golkar faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) yesterday vowed to crush any attempt to alter the present political format.

Faction leaders told a press conference that their rival political organizations are free to propose amendments which the dominant ruling group would be equally free to block.

"The smooth elections in the past showed that the law is still relevant and there is no reason to even think about amending it," faction chairman Mustahid Astari said.

Calls for changes in the election laws resurfaced again as the three contesting political organizations, Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) are bracing for the 1997 election.

PDI and PPP have openly tried again to seek amendment of laws on the general election in the upcoming five-yearly sessions of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in the run-up to the 1998 presidential election.

Their bid to seek political reforms, including alterations in the election law, during the 1993 MPR assembly was blocked by the Golkar-Armed Forces (ABRI) alliance.

In the latest maneuver to renew the pressure to review the law, the Petisi 50, a group of staunch critics of the government, provoked the minority PDI on Thursday not to ease its push for a political overhaul to promote democracy.

PPP and PDI want more say in the election process, including co-sponsoring it, which is currently "monopolized" by the government.

Press reports

Mustahid said that although there have been a great many press reports on the increasing demand for political reform, no political party has made a proposal to the DPR leadership.

The press briefing was held to evaluate recent political, social and economic issues from the Golkar viewpoint before the House closes the current session today.

The legislators were besieged by questions about Golkar's stance on the continued banning of seminars and art shows, a policy widely seen as restricting the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.

Mustahid, who assumed his post in August following a reshuffle, said Golkar supported the ban on seminars and art performances which were held without the authorities' permits.

He argued that the law requires a permit for the assembly of groups of more than five people.

The briefing burst into laughter when a journalist asked why Golkar should defend the unpopular law on subversion even though it is public knowledge that the rule was drafted by D.N. Aidit, a senior leader of the defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

"I reject the rationale that by maintaining the (subversion) law, the state is communist," he said. "By the same token, many of our laws are made by the colonial administration and yet we can use them without being colonialist," he said.

Mustahid dismissed as untrue press reports that Golkar's executive board was out to crack down on its legislators considered "too critical" of the government.

What happened is that the Golkar faction chief is given more authority to supervise its legislators. Under the new policy, the chairman has the authority to recommend dismissal, he said.

He denied news that Golkar would sack 12 of its 282 House members for being "too outspoken." (pan)