Golkar rejects rights restriction claim

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar Secretary-General Ary Mardjono denied yesterday the ruling faction was curtailing its members' rights by insisting they individually declare their support for the candidacies of Soeharto and B.J. Habibie as president and vice president respectively.

By the time the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly kicks off this morning, the vast majority of Golkar faction members will have signed a form that indicates their personal support for the two candidates.

"Each Golkar representative in the Assembly will have to sign the form by midnight," Ary told reporters after attending the last briefing for Golkar legislators at the Assembly building yesterday.

A Golkar faction executive, Fahmi Idris, said later that two of the 586 representatives of the ruling organization were unable to sign the forms: one was sick while the other was on assignment abroad.

Ary admitted the signing was mandatory, but he was quick to deny it was a restriction of the individual rights of Golkar legislators.

"We need the signatures just to meet administrative procedures of the presidential and vice presidential nominations, as stipulated by Assembly decree number two in 1973.

"Golkar welcomes different views only during internal meetings. But once the organization reaches a decision, all faction members should support it."

The signatures will be attached to a letter stating Golkar's candidates which will be presented to the Assembly's leaders. Critics have speculated the signing was designed to minimize the possibility of dissent.

Golkar, the Armed Forces, the regional representatives, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) factions have all named incumbent Soeharto and State Minister of Research and Technology Habibie for the presidency and vice presidency.

Ary said it would be normal if all Golkar representatives voted for Soeharto and Habibie in the presidential and vice presidential elections by the 1,000-member Assembly, only because the ruling political organization had named the duo as its choices.

Interruptions

While Ary expressed his guarded optimism that no Golkar legislator would dissent, the leader of the PDI faction Buttu Hutapea hinted that he would allow his team members to interrupt the Assembly's meetings.

"I cannot guarantee there will be no interruptions (by PDI legislators) during the meetings. But I hope that the Assembly sessions run smoothly," Buttu said.

He said the Assembly's internal rules allowed legislators to interrupt a session.

The rules state that an interruption is allowed only for matters of technicality. An Assembly member may interrupt the proceedings to seek clarification, to correct any improper implementation of procedures or to call for a break.

Buttu said it seemed unnecessary to dissent and interrupt sessions because all the factions had already agreed on the draft of the State Policy Guidelines and other decrees to be endorsed during the 11-day convention.

"If a faction member feels unsatisfied with certain matters, he or she should call for an internal meeting to discuss them," Buttu said.

Separately, outgoing Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said the General Session would not be that smooth if leaders, spokespeople, and the factions' floor leaders displayed a lack of political skills.

Sarwono, who is a former Golkar secretary-general, predicted therefore that "threats" to the session would come from inside rather than outside.

He dismissed those who said the General Session had been so arranged that the people's representatives would only need to knock the gavel to signify an end to the discussion.

He said "incidents" could happen if some people overacted.

Sarwono warned that many Assembly members were people with "education, ranking, and power" who had the right to interrupt the proceedings should they find something "improperly managed".

Sarwono, who is also a member of the Golkar squad for the upcoming convention, said threats from inside were imminent.

"If not, why did the leaders of all of the factions warn members against dissenting, and threaten to dismiss those who defied the warning?"

Asked about his own expectations for the session, he said it should be able to accommodate people's rising concerns about the effects of the economic crisis.

"There are many professors, engineers, ministers and governors joining the Assembly. Let's just hope they will be able and willing to do that." (aan/imn/amd)