Golkar 'salvation council' stripped of power

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.