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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