LDP denies pledge to aid Golkar scheme

LDP denies pledge to aid Golkar scheme

JAKARTA (JP): Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has
denied providing a commitment of financial assistance to the
Golkar Party, Japan's envoy to Indonesia Takao Kawakami said on
Thursday.

"It does not exist," Antara quoted him as saying after a
signing ceremony for Japanese grants to Indonesia. "Any kind of
assistance offered according to the scheme in Japan is usually on
a government-to-government basis."

Kawakami was responding to reports LDP made contributions to
Indonesian farmers through the ruling Golkar.

Golkar deputy Abdul Gafur said during a visit to Tokyo that
LDP was prepared to provide financial assistance to Golkar's
program to help farmers. Another Golkar executive said the visit
was at the invitation of LDP to discuss long-term cooperation in
empowering poor Indonesian farmers.

Abdul said the aid would be channeled after the June 7 polls
to avoid a public outcry.

The agency quoted Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung as earlier
confirming the aid. "But if the cooperation is considered to have
violated the law, we won't push it."

The new law on political parties bans them from receiving
foreign aid.

Any assistance, Kawakami said, was usually provided through
the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).

Asked about Japanese laws on financial assistance to political
parties, Kawakami said: "I have to be careful on this, so I will
check it."

Japan's grant assistance on Thursday totaled 2.871 billion
(US$24 million) as its final package in the fiscal year
1998/1999. It includes 1.182 billion for repairs to two units of
the Gresik steam power plant in Central Java, the development of
science and mathematics teaching for elementary and secondary
schools (549 million) and acceleration of neonatal tetanus and
measles control (251 million).

Kawakami and the Director General for Foreign Economic
Relations Johan S. Syahperi signed the agreement.

Observers are continuing to sound warnings of the likelihood
of money politics, particularly by Golkar, still considered the
most powerful and best known party along with the United
Development Party (PPP) and Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Valina Singka Subekti, director of the political laboratory of
the University of Indonesia, said: "Various studies showed that
rural residents only know about the three aforementioned
parties... and many said they would vote for Golkar because it
is the most popular and it spends lots of money ...

"This is dangerous because large numbers of the country's
eligible voters are at the grassroots, rural area level."

Clash

In Semarang, two people were injured in a clash when the
location of a district branch of the National Awakening Party
(PKB) was attacked on Wednesday by about 30 people wearing
uniforms of the PPP. With the help of about 50 people who were
not in uniform, the crowd rushed the stage and damaged the sound
system and hundreds of tables and chairs.

The chairman of Jepara's PKB branch, Hayyatun Alhafid, said
the party "would not seek revenge" but a police report was filed.

Meanwhile, the deputy chairman of PKB's Central Java branch,
Ali Hanan Fatah, charged that Golkar frequently violated new
rules on the neutrality of civil servants and stipulations
against money politics.

Civil servants from the village to regency level used state
facilities, he said, citing Golkar functions in Banjarnegara,
Wonosobo, Kendal and Pati. He alleged supporters were each paid
Rp 15,000 and the government's red license plate on a vehicle
owned by the district head was changed to a regular black plate.
Another Rp 2,500 was paid to residents willing to put up party
flags, he claimed.

Central Java police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi said 20,000
police officers were assigned for the campaign period. He urged
parties to curb their supporters. The provincial Golkar branch
has also reported the vandalism of dozens of its party banners
and flags. (har/edt/anr)