Golkar will comeback, says Akbar
Golkar will comeback, says Akbar
MANADO: Golkar will make a comeback to lead this country again one day, says the party's chief Akbar Tandjung.
"It will seize the highest slot which is the president of this republic," Akbar claimed in front of the New Order bulwark supporters here, seemingly alluding to himself.
Akbar, who is also Speaker of the House of Representatives, is on a whirlwind trip to Ternate, North Maluku and Manado.
It is no secret that a number of top officials have been doing some subtle presidential campaigning ahead of the 2004 election.
Golkar, he said, was an inclusive party which was capable of accommodating the plurality of the Indonesian society.
Akbar narrowly escaped from an investigation by his fellow legislators when they failed recently to agree on setting up a special commission to probe his possible involvement in a Rp 40 billion graft case. He is currently on trial at the Central Jakarta District Court in the case. -- Antara
;JP;HBK; ANPAa..r.. National-scene-leaders New Order culture persists JP/4/SCENE
New Order culture persists
KUPANG: Chairman of The Justice Party Abidin Nasar, claims the country's ongoing decline is a legacy of the 30 years of New Order rule.
Today's public figures were groomed in the New Order era and its culture of corruption and nepotism has continued unrelentingly, making it extremely difficult to stop, said Nasar, at a book launching here on Sunday.
He cited the case of Bank Indonesia's Governor, Sjahril Sabirin, who has been found guilty in a graft case and Speaker of the House of Representatives Akbar Tandjung, who is being tried for his alleged involvement in a Rp 40 billion graft case.
"This is the most bizarre situation, in which top officials keep their positions while at the same time being tried in court," he added. --Antara
;JP;NFK; ANPAa..r.. National-scene-rally Militants to rally for sharia JP/4/scene15
Militants to rally for sharia
SURABAYA: Leaders and activists from several Muslim extremist groups are planning to stage a street rally in Surabaya on Aug. 5, to campaign for the introduction of sharia (Islamic law) to the country.
Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, accused by Singapore and Malaysia of being involved in a regional terrorist network, is expected to attend the rally, which is being organized by the Islam Defenders Front (FPI).
FPI leader Abdurrachman Cherid, who announced the plan at a religious gathering attended by Ba'asyir on Sunday, claimed the rally is being supported by Muslim organizations.
Cherid said the planned rally is aimed at urging the House of Representatives to adopt and implement sharia.
"I think our intention is rational because the majority of people in this country are Muslims, so we have the right to uphold sharia," he said.
Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, the largest two Muslim organizations in the country, have bluntly rejected a proposal to adopt sharia. --Antara
;JP;HBK; ANPAa..r.. National-scene-Oecusse Let Oecusse be part of RI: Legislator JP/4/SCENE
Retake part of E. Timor: NTT Legislator
KUPANG: A regional legislator has urged the government to negotiate with East Timor for the integration of a small East Timorese enclave which is surrounded by East Nusa Tenggara province.
Yosua Mooy, a legislator from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) said that his proposal was based on security and economics considerations.
"With the inclusion of Oecusse, we can tone down our defense budget on the border," Mooy said referring to the former regency of Ambeno which is located between Belu regency and Timor Tengah Utara in NTT.
East Timorese, on their way to Dili in East Timor have to pass through NTT, home to many former pro-Indonesian militias.
Mooy said unless the government paid attention to the security of land transportation in the area, it could become a source of conflict. -- Antara