Harmoko denies Golkar plotting 'Operation Dawn'

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chief Harmoko denied yesterday that his party had concocted "operation dawn" to win votes by distributing food on election day.

"There's no such thing," he said yesterday.

He maintained that Golkar would conform with its election agenda set out in its convention last year, and that "operation dawn" was not part of its strategy.

"Anything outside of that (Golkar's election agenda) is not Golkar's responsibility," he said.

But he conceded that social organizations affiliated with Golkar were free to pursue their own strategies, including social work and making contributions.

"That's up to the organizations concerned," he said.

The United Development Party claimed on Tuesday that it had uncovered a Golkar plan to distribute food at dawn on May 29 to voters in areas where Golkar had lost seats in the 1992 election.

The plan was discovered in a Communication Forum for Golkar- affiliated Islamic Mass Organization's letter which asked member organizations to list all the villages and subdistricts that were not Golkar friendly.

The move "has nothing to do with trying to elicit votes for Golkar," Harmoko said.

The General Elections Institute's secretary-general, Suryatna Subrata, said yesterday that if such a plan existed it would violate the electoral law.

"If operation dawn is carried out on May 29 to solicit support for Golkar then it would clearly be a violation," said Suryatna, also a member of the National Elections Committee.

"If the matter is clearly like that then there will be action from the Election Supervision Committee," he added.

Antara reported that the forum had released a statement yesterday claiming that "operation dawn" aimed to help the needy and encourage people to go to polling stations.

The forum said it would distribute snacks and coffee at mosques after the early morning prayer.

On the campaign trail, Golkar leader Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana met several local ulemas of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) organization in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.

But local NU youths were disappointed when NU chairman Abdurrahman Wahid failed to attend the meeting. The youths released a statement accusing a "certain party" of foiling the meeting between Abdurrahman, Hardiyanti and the South Sulawesi ulemas.

"It (the failure of Abdurrahman) to show up for the planned meeting was rigged by certain party who are against him," the youths said.

The meeting between Hardiyanti, better known as Tutut, and the ulemas was also attended by Ujungpandang Governor H.Z.B. Palaguna, regional military commander Maj. Gen. Agum Gumelar and provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Ali Hanafiah.

Golkar functionary Wardiman Djojonegoro was also there to highlight the party's progress in eradicating poverty and promise further efforts.

"It's true there are still many poor people in this country, but there were even more before we started developing," said Wardiman, who is also minister of education and culture.

State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita was also at the meeting. (30/31/37/mds)