Golkar 'salvation council' stripped of power

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Top Golkar Party executives ensured on Monday that a so-called 'salvation council' would be limited to advisory functions, foiling yet another move that could have led to the ouster of the party's trouble-plagued chairman, Akbar Tandjung.

The decision came after a meeting between members of the Golkar Party's executive board and patrons on the latter's proposal for the establishment of a team that would seek Akbar's resignation.

The proposal was designed as a move to salvage the party's reputation, following Akbar's alleged involvement in a high profile scam involving National Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds.

During the meeting, held at the party's headquarters here, it was agreed that the 'salvation council' would have no significant decision making powers, and that its role should be limited to providing advice to the executive board (DPP) regarding the scam.

Senior Golkar member and former minister Cosmas Batubara, one of the patrons who founded the council, was named as its chairman, with Golkar deputy secretary-general Bomer Pasaribu named secretary.

"The council will formulate and later deliver legal and political advice to the DPP concerning recent political developments. This is aimed at strengthening Golkar's position in the country's political constellation," Cosmas told a press conference.

Bomer and Agung Laksono represented the party executive board during the meeting. Other council members attending the meeting were A.A. Baramuli, Pinantun Hutasoit, Muladi and Suhardiman.

Agung reiterated that the council was merely to give advice to the DPP. "All implementation of the advice is in the hands of the DPP," he said.

Meanwhile, when asked about the purpose of the council, Cosmas conceded that the alleged Rp 40 billion Bulog scam implicating Akbar had tarnished Golkar's image.

"The Bulog scam has involved Akbar, who was a minister/state secretary then, when the alleged scam occurred. The fact that he was also the party chairman has bothered Golkar when facing its people," he said.

He claimed that Golkar had 25 million supporters, something that made the party a national asset.

"Golkar must take steps to save this national asset," he said.

In this vein, the establishment of the council was designed to restore the party's image in a bid to win the 2004 general election, Cosmas said.

Cosmas acknowledged that there was internal friction over the council's establishment.

"All members are free to speak out, but we agreed to abide by the party's mechanisms, so that the board of patrons has the right only to advise the DPP," he said.

Muladi disclosed the council's establishment on Saturday. He said it would work to assess whether Golkar as an entity was involved in the Bulog scam, or whether it was purely a personal matter involving Akbar.

The statement drew a harsh response from Akbar supporters, including Slamet Effendy Yusuf, who accused the council of acting beyond its capacities.

Meanwhile, Cosmas denied that the council would propose to the DPP that an extraordinary congress (Munaslub) be held to topple Akbar from the party's chairmanship.

"Indeed, there is an argument, including from Pak Baramuli, that the party must hold a Munaslub to settle internal problems. However, that is a personal opinion, since to hold a Munaslub we would need the agreement of at least two-thirds of the party's chapters throughout Indonesia," he said.

Golkar is slated to hold its congress in 2004. Throughout the party's history, a snap congress has often been seen as a ploy to bring about a change in leadership.

Although the council said it would not propose an accelerated congress, Muladi insisted on its importance.

He said such a congress was needed to ease tension in the party, saying that "it is a form of political relaxation."

It is widely known that Akbar's camp is in dispute with Baramuli's Iramasuka faction, which groups Golkar members from the eastern parts of Indonesia.

The row came to the surface in 1999 after Golkar, under Akbar, failed to win party candidate B.J. Habibie the presidency.