Golkar to pick retired general

Tue, 25 Jun 2002, 00:00 WIB

JAKARTA: The Golkar Party is considering appointing another
retired general as its new secretary general to replace former
military officer Tuswandi who passed away on June 12, 2002.

Golkar Chairman Akbar Tandjung said on Monday his party's new
secretary general will likely be from the Indonesian Military
(TNI) in a bid to maintain its historical relations with the
armed forces.

Backed by the military, Golkar won landslide votes in past
elections during the repressive 32-year rule of former dictator
Soeharto who used the party as his political vehicle to retain
power.

Tuswandi, a retired two-star general, died from a heart attack
at Golkar's headquarters in Slipi, West Jakarta. He served as the
party's secretary general since July 1998. --Antara

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