Golkar to file lawsuits against government, police
JAKARTA (JP): In response to the torching of several Golkar offices in East Java by supporters of President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung said on Wednesday the party would file lawsuits against the government, the police and those responsible for the attacks.
Akbar said at the House of Representative the police and government had failed to prevent the attacks.
He said the waves of anti-Golkar demonstrations were engineered to shift public attention away from the House's memorandum of censure against the President for his alleged role in the Bulog and Brunei financial scandals.
In fierce demonstrations on Wednesday, Gus Dur supporters torched and vandalized Golkar offices in Surabaya, Mojokerto and Malang.
Akbar said Golkar was a legal political party. "They (the demonstrators) should bear in mind that Golkar's presence is valid, and it secured the second most number of votes (after the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle) in the 1999 general election."
"What is wrong with Golkar? If the demonstrators, who claim to be Gus Dur supporters, object to the party's presence they should not destroy the party's property and belongings. Just file a lawsuit with the courts."
Akbar said everyone, particularly Gus Dur's supporters, should accept that there are differences of opinion in a democracy, and should not forget that Golkar supported Gus Dur's presidential candidacy during the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly.
Meanwhile, Minister of Defense Mahfud MD said the government would ask the leaders of all social organizations to control their members and persuade them to maintain peace and order.
"I will ask Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi to travel across the province, calm the people and stop the anarchic actions," Mahfud said on the sidelines of a hearing with House Commission I for security and defense.
He said Gus Dur's supporters should accept the House's memorandum of censure, while critics of Abdurrahman should understand that fast-tracking a special session of the Assembly to impeach the President was unconstitutional.
Separately, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab said the people should avoid violence during the democratization process in the country, because the international community was watching events in Indonesia.
"If people attempt to take actions that are anarchic or unconstitutional, that would be a bad precedent for all of us. The international community watches how we act."
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief of territorial affairs, Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo, said in Jakarta on Wednesday TNI would assist the police in maintaining law and order across the nation.
"The military will back up the police if the situation deteriorates. The military is always ready to help the police maintain peace and order in any situation," Agus said during a press briefing at TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.
Muhammadiyah
Meanwhile, in an effort "to clarify" the relationship between Gus Dur's supporters and Muhammadiyah, the second-largest Muslim organization in the country, the group's chairman, Syafii Maarif, said here on Wednesday that Muhammadiyah had never demanded Gus Dur resign.
Speaking at Bina Graha presidential office, Syafii said he once reproached Najamuddin, one of the leaders of the group's youth wing, for urging the President to quit during a media conference.
"Only a very few members of Muhammadiyah have demanded that Gus Dur quit," Syafii said.
Gus Dur's supporters apparently are ready to take up arms against Muhammadiyah, which they view as one of the President's "enemies".
He declined to comment on Amien Rais' frequent statements attacking Abdurrahman.
Amien led Muhammadiyah before chairing the National Mandate Party (PAN) and being elected speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly.
Despite the fact that Amien's grip on Muhammadiyah is not as strong as in the past, people continue to link his political moves with Muhammadiyah. (team)