Legislators dismissed in reorganization: Observers

Legislators dismissed in reorganization: Observers

JAKARTA (JP): Political observers said on Tuesday that the
ruling political organization Golkar's decision to dismiss 36
legislators from the House of Representatives (DPR) and five
legislators from the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) was
part of the organization's short term-strategy to secure the
Assembly's extraordinary session in November.

Indria Semego, a political researcher at the National
Institute of Science (LIPI), and J. Kristiadi, a political
analyst at the Centre for International and Strategic Studies
(CSIS), said Golkar wanted to play safe in the upcoming session.

"The dismissal of former cabinet ministers who no longer
support Golkar will help reduce Golkar's difficulties in the
extraordinary session of the MPR in November," Indria told The
Jakarta Post by telephone.

"Legislators like Siswono Yudhohusodo and Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja have no selling point for Golkar at all."

"They will even influence people not to vote for Golkar in
next year's general election," he said. Siswono, a former
minister of transmigration and Sarwono, a former state minister
of environment, have repeatedly criticized Golkar on a range of
issues and have said it is not a democratic organization.

Indria, also a researcher at the Center for Information and
Development Studies (CIDES), said the dismissal of the
legislators could be construed as an attempt by the ruling
political organization to show it was committed to reform and
regeneration.

"I think Golkar wants to show that cabinet ministers should
not sit in the Assembly and give younger cadres the opportunity
to prove their capability." he said.

Kristiadi said the dismissals could not be looked at
separately from President B.J. Habibie's efforts to maintain his
power.

"It's part of Habibie's attempts to maintain his presidency,"
he told the Post separately.

He said the decision to remove the legislators, most of whom
are serving and former Cabinet ministers, would condemn Golkar to
its lowest ever showing in next year's general election.

"The active and former cabinet members were replaced by new
and unfamiliar faces who do not know Golkar well," he said.

"In the end, Golkar will only be capable of securing a maximum
of 10 percent of the overall votes in next year's general
election," he said.

The decision to dismiss the 41 legislators was stipulated in a
decree issued by the Golkar executive board on Oct. 9, 1998. The
decree was signed by chairman Akbar Tandjung and secretary-
general Tuswandi.

Included on the list were State Minister of the Empowerment of
State Enterprises Tanri Abeng, who was replaced by Muhammad Said;
Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan, replaced by Iwan
Dermawan; and Minister of Communications Giri Suseno
Hadihardjono, replaced by H.A.T. Soegito.

Also included were former minister/state secretary Moerdiono,
replaced by A.B. Bayupathy; former minister of cooperatives and
small enterprises Subiakto Tjakrawerdaya, replaced by Moh. Sidi
T. Idris; former minister of manpower Abdul Latief, replaced by
Nurhajati Hakim, former minister of state administrative reforms
T.B. Silalahi, replaced by Nathanael Natonius Maidepa; and former
minister of tourism, post, and telecommunications Joop Ave, who
was replaced by Leonard Tomasoa.

Commenting on the legislators' dismissal, Akbar Tandjung said
the decision was a "natural" move and part of the organization's
policies.

"We need to regenerate our cadres. There are lots of Golkar
cadres who need to be given an opportunity," Akbar said as quoted
by Antara on Tuesday.

Asked about his decision to maintain former minister of
defense Edi Sudradjat's legislative membership, Akbar said Edi
was still needed by Golkar.

"We have not replaced pak Edi because we expect him to become
a member of Golkar's board of advisors," he said, adding that
those dismissed had been informed prior to the announcement being
made.

Golkar's deputy chairman Abdul Gafur said the legislators'
dismissal would not be a serious problem because Golkar had many
potential good cadres.

"We still have a lot of cadres who are loyal to the
organization," he told the press, adding that the decision to
introduce some younger blood had been taken at Golkar's
extraordinary congress in July. (imn)