Golkar to pick retired general

Golkar to pick retired general

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