Golkar 'the common enemy' to beat lawfully in polls

Golkar 'the common enemy' to beat lawfully in polls

JAKARTA (JP): Ruling party Golkar will be the common enemy of
parties seeking political changes in the country, but it must be
defeated through fair play, politician Rudini said on Tuesday.

Rudini, a patron of the MKGR Party, said in a seminar on
elections jointly organized by Antara news agency, Republika
daily and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation that there have
been growing fears that Golkar would resort to using money in its
bid to maintain the status quo.

"Basically every party is open to the use of money politics,
but Golkar has undoubtedly become the center of public suspicion
because it is the best prepared and financially the strongest
contender," said Rudini, who also chairs the General Election
Commission (KPU).

Golkar, formerly an alliance of civil servants and the Armed
Forces, has at least Rp 17 billion (US$1.9 million) in its war
chest and is expected to have a head start in the June 7
elections.

Rudini was commenting on the issue of money politics allegedly
practiced by Golkar. A number of party figures who attended the
seminar said Golkar had started using money to woo potential
voters.

Being a minister of home affairs between 1988 and 1993, Rudini
admitted that the use of money to secure the lion's share of
votes was an old practice.

Golkar emerged with a clear majority in each of the last six
polls held under the fallen Soeharto's New Order regime amid
complaints of cheating and election rigging.

Rudini suggested that opposition to Golkar should unite from
the early stages of the election campaign to prevent the ruling
party clinging to power.

"If we want Golkar to lose, we have to improve ourselves. Each
of us must develop tolerance to differences on our way to
consensus," Rudini said.

He warned new parties against excessive spending, saying that
in the reform era money could not buy votes.

Habib of the Abul Yatama Party was one of those party
representatives who raised concerns over Golkar's alleged money
politics.

"They have donated to foundations or organizers of places of
worship in order to buy the people's votes. Golkar is very
skillful in doing so," Habib said.

Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung was upset by the growing
animosity toward his party, as many people suspect that the party
would justify all means of retaining the lion's share of votes in
the upcoming polls.

"I cannot understand why many people consider that a Golkar
victory will mean a failure by the country to hold a just and
fair general election. I don't accept such logic," Akbar, who is
Minister/State Secretary, said at Merdeka Palace.

He said elections would run justly and fairly if all
contestants observe the rules of the game.

"Golkar has from the beginning been committed to competing in
democratic, just and fair way and accepting a direct, free and
confidential ballot under the eyes of either formal or informal
monitoring bodies," Akbar said.

He said another win for Golkar would indicate public trust in
it, instead of election rigging.

"We, too, are ready to accept the bad news if the people
choose parties other than Golkar, We will even acknowledge a new
government that excludes Golkar," he said.

In Central Java hostility and violence continued to tarnish
the election proceedings. Chief of the local People's Democratic
Party (PRD) Bambang Purnomo said on Tuesday a group of
unidentified people beat him up on Sunday evening in the Simpang
Lima area in downtown Semarang.

An office and a car belonging to the United Development Party
(PPP) were set on fire in Pekalongan on Monday. At about the same
time 200 more Golkar banners were pulled down in Semarang and
Rembang. (edt/har/prb/amd)