Harmoko denies using state funds for Golkar

Harmoko denies using state funds for Golkar

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko denied
allegations yesterday that he has been using state funds to
finance his trips to various parts of the country in his capacity
as chairman of Golkar, the ruling political group.

"When I travel to the provinces, not in my capacity as
Minister of Information, I do not use the Ministry of
Information's funds," he said when the question was raised during
a hearing with Commission I of the House of Representatives.

Harmoko has been stomping across the nation ever since his
election to the Golkar chairmanship in 1993, mobilizing support
for the ruling political group and holding meetings with Golkar
cadres.

Hardly a day goes by without the government-controlled TVRI
station showing Harmoko in a bright yellow jacket, the color of
Golkar, addressing cadres and supporters.

Harmoko has said that he hopes to cover all 304 regencies in
Indonesia before the next general election in 1997. He still has
some 90 regencies to cover.

Commission I member Sabam Sirait during the hearing yesterday
asked the minister if there was a use of funding from the
Ministry of Information, since Harmoko is both a cabinet minister
and Golkar's top man.

Sabam of the minority Indonesian Democratic Party questioned
whether these "meetings with cadres" in the regencies were not
siphoning Ministry of Information funds.

Harmoko replied that financial support for his travels and
other activities as Golkar chief were not taken from the ministry
but funded by Golkar itself.

"I know how to separate myself as information minister, as
Golkar chairman and even as head of Perbasi (The National
Basketball Association)," he remarked.

Harmoko during the hearing also rejected charges that the
Ministry of Information was censoring the media by calling
editors to tell them not to print certain sensitive stories.

"The government does not recognize the `telephone' or
summoning culture," Harmoko said, referring to the popular phrase
used to describe the ministry's censorship method.

He said the government now holds periodic "meetings" with
chief editors to discuss government policies.

These meetings, he said, were to fulfill requests by media
leaders who need to be updated on government policies.

Such meetings should not be viewed in a negative context, he
added. (mds)

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