Golkar seeks to reform campaign rules
JAKARTA (JP): The ruling political group Golkar announced yesterday that it will push to reform the electoral laws regulating political campaigns and rallies.
The reforms will deal primarily with procedures concerning the campaign period, which is generally lively and at times intense.
Speaking to journalists at Golkar headquarters yesterday, vice chairman Abdul Gafur said that election guidelines would be among the central topics to be discussed at Golkar's leadership meeting at Hotel Indonesia from Oct. 17 to 19.
In particular, they will focus on the possibility of limiting parades and public demonstrations, which, they fear, could disrupt public order.
Indonesians are set to go to the polls again in 1997 to elect members to the House of Representatives.
Gafur said the move to reform the electoral laws is aimed at improving the quality of the coming election. "It is to help increase the frequency of dialog during the campaign," remarked the former cabinet minister.
Golkar has swept all past five general elections, winning at least two-thirds of the total votes each time.
In October 1993, it elected Minister of Information Harmoko as its new chairman, making him the first civilian to head the organization which was founded by the Army in 1964.
The three-day leadership meeting, which starts on Tuesday, will lead up to Golkar's 31st anniversary celebration on Oct. 20.
Another Golkar chairperson, Waskito Reksosoedirja, said a reception at the Jakarta Convention Center will be held to celebrate the anniversary, with the theme of "50-years My Indonesia, 31-years My Golkar."
There will also be various social activities held in connection with Golkar's birthday. These include free heart and cholesterol check-ups, a visit by the Golkar leaders to the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery and a walkathon in which 6,000 people are expected to participate.
Abdul Gafur said the leadership meeting would also formulate a political statement which would be read at the anniversary reception.
Gafur, who was also accompanied by Golkar executive members A. Fahmi Alatas and Sofyan Lubis, refused to elaborate on the possible contents of the declaration.
However, when asked whether the issue of succession would be contained in the declaration, Gafur retorted with a brisk "no".
Separately the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party, Megawati Sukarnoputri, said that there was nothing wrong with private organizations publicly expressing support for a presidential candidate.
"There is no ban against organizations naming their choice as president for the 1998-2003 period. They have a right to do that," she said when asked to comment on a statement made by Golkar's youth wing, Generasi Muda Gabungan Rakyat Indonesia, that they would support President Soeharto's renomination.
Megawati argued that a mechanism for selecting the president was already established.
"Let's just wait until 1997 to elect the people's representatives to the DPR/MPR, and then let the People's Consultative Assembly in March 1998 choose the country's best son or daughter as president," she said as quoted by Antara yesterday.(mds)