Golkar wants to maintain ABRI's support

Golkar wants to maintain ABRI's support

JAKARTA (JP): The dominant party Golkar begged on Tuesday that
the powerful Armed Forces (ABRI) reconsider its expressed stance
of no longer supporting any political parties, including Golkar,
in the coming polls.

"The ties between Golkar and ABRI are a historical fact. We
are hoping that this close relationship be taken into account by
ABRI," Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung told reporters after a
House of Representatives (DPR) plenary session for the
presentation of the 1999/2000 state budget.

"It's legal for Golkar to maintain the ties as the other
political parties are also eager to have such a relationship with
ABRI," said Akbar who is also Minister/State Secretary.

The Army sponsored in 1964 the merge of six mass organizations
to form Golkar in an effort to overcome the increasing influence
of the now-outlawed Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

The ABRI-Golkar relationship continued with the introduction
of the A-B-G tripartite organizational structure in 1985, in
which A represents ABRI, B represents the bureaucracy and G the
existing mass and social organizations allied under Golkar's
umbrella.

In response to Golkar's appeal, Armed Forces Chief of
Territorial Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dismissed
the possibility of reestablishing the ties with the organization.

"ABRI is determined to become a good referee in the upcoming
general election," he told reporters separately after the House
plenary session.

"ABRI will, therefore, maintain its neutrality and not side
with any political parties," he said.

He said ABRI's interest was to have a general election that is
safe, orderly, democratic, open, accountable, honest and fair.

"I think that's what ABRI wants to do. And we are all
preparing for it," Susilo said.

On a separate occasion, chairman of the National Awakening
Party (PAN) Amien Rais said his party would be ready to coalesce
with any political parties after the general election.

"We'll be ready to form a coalition with any parties, as long
as they have the same platform and goals as ours," he said, while
addressing the opening of the Yogyakarta chapter of the party.

Amien, however, said it would be least likely to form a
coalition with Golkar, given the deep distrust that people have
for the political organization which for the past three decades
had been acting as the political machinery of Soeharto's New
Order regime.

"Although Golkar repents and asks for forgiveness, it's still
the least likely alternative for us to form a coalition with it,"
he said.

Amien acknowledged the considerable financial resources at
Golkar's disposal for next June's general election, which he
believed originated from the Dakab Foundation.

"People at the grassroots do not bother with political
parties. They'll vote for any party that gives them money."

"And I do not want the Dakab fund to be used for a certain
political party's interest," he said, adding that Golkar had the
capability of doing such a thing.

Dakab, established in 1985, used to provide financial support
for the dominant Golkar. Its assets are said to be worth Rp
836.20 billion (US$106.8 million). This foundation collected Rp
50 from the monthly salaries of low-level Moslem civil servants
and Armed Forces (ABRI) members. Senior officials had their
monthly pay docked by Rp 1,000.

Soeharto, however, had last November handed over to the
government the funds from the seven charity foundations he
chaired, a total of about Rp 4 trillion (US$530 million). They
included the Dakab Foundation. (imn/44)