Harmoko backs general's claim on ruling Golkar

Harmoko backs general's claim on ruling Golkar

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chairman Harmoko yesterday backed Army
Chief Gen. Hartono's controversial claim that every member of the
Armed Forces (ABRI) is a cadre of the ruling political group.

Harmoko, the first civilian to head Golkar since it was
founded by the military in 1964, stressed that ABRI has chosen
his organization to channel its political interests.

In his first public comment on the issue, Harmoko said, "We
have high hopes that ABRI will do its utmost to help Golkar win
the 1997 general election."

His opinion, announced in a statement read by deputy Golkar
chairman Abdul Gafur, was read during the opening of a three-day
political course in Jakarta for 220 members of veteran and youth
organizations as well as civil servants employed under the Armed
Forces.

Also on hand were Golkar Secretary General Brig. Gen. (ret.)
Ary Mardjono, assistant to the ABRI sociopolitical affairs chief
Maj. Gen. Suwarno Adiwijoyo and the chairman of the Veteran
Legion Lt. Gen. (ret.) Achmad Tahir.

Harmoko, who was elected Golkar chairman in 1993, said the
Armed Forces is an inseparable part of Golkar because it plays a
"strategic role in our big family. ABRI has not only helped found
Golkar, but has also developed it."

Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono's remarks sparked fear
among politicians of Golkar's rivals, the United Development
Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). They fear
that ABRI is being used by Golkar to ensure another landslide win
in next year's general election.

Chief of ABRI's Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid
said in Surabaya on Sunday that Hartono was airing his personal
view as a Golkar cadre.

The public should not interpret Hartono's statement to mean
that the Armed Forces was beginning to prepare a political
assault on the PPP and PDI in favor of Golkar, he said.

PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum has said that Hartono was
spelling out Golkar's lack of confidence in facing the 1997 poll.

"Gen. Hartono was reassuring Golkar that ABRI is still on its
side," he said in Yogyakarta Sunday.

Until last week, ABRI -- which plays a dominant role in the
Indonesian politics -- maintained a dignified silence over its
support of Golkar.

Criticism against Hartono also came from the Jakarta branch of
the Indonesian Catholic Students Union yesterday.

The union's Jakarta branch chairman Gabriel G. Sola said in a
statement that Hartono has pushed the armed forces into "real
politicking" and siding with Golkar.

"If Hartono's statement should be taken as true, ABRI no
longer belongs to every citizen. It has set ABRI against the
people," Sola said.

The union demanded that President Soeharto, as the supreme
commander of the Armed Forces, reprimand Hartono. The general
should withdraw his statement and apologize to the public, Sola
said. (pan)

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