Military's support of Golkar blasted

Military's support of Golkar blasted

JAKARTA (JP): The minority Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
lambasted yesterday top military officials' open support for the
ruling Golkar group, a support that flies in the face of the
Armed Forces' supposed political neutrality.

Party chief Megawati Soekarnoputri said, in a speech marking
the end of a commemoration of the party's 23rd anniversary, that
the party supported ABRI's political neutrality and its stance
above all political groupings.

"If there are individuals within ABRI who intentionally steer
it into supporting a certain grouping in the general election,
then this situation may threaten national resilience," Megawati
told 2,000 party members and supporters at party headquarters in
Central Jakarta.

Megawati did not mention any names, but was obviously
referring to Golkar and the recent statements of support for the
grouping by certain military leaders. Last March, Army chief of
Staff Gen. Hartono claimed that all ABRI members are also cadres
of Golkar and that they are "forbidden from supporting Golkar
halfheartedly".

Despite the outpouring of criticism from rival politicians and
scholars, other ABRI leaders backed Hartono's assertion. Maj.
Gen. Suwarno Adiwijoyo, assistant to ABRI's sociopolitical
affairs chief, said Hartono was stating the obvious because the
Armed Forces had founded Golkar.

He argued it was impossible for ABRI's 400,000 members to stay
neutral because not all groups in Indonesia accept the 1945
Constitution and Pancasila.

ABRI Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid
softened the blow by saying that choosing Golkar as its partner
did not necessarily mean that the military treats the two
minority political parties -- PDI and the United Development
Party (PPP) -- as adversaries.

"As a political force, ABRI's Big Family are cadres of Golkar.
As a security and defense force, ABRI is neutral," he insisted.
The "Big Family" encompasses military personnel, their spouses
and children.

Megawati also asked the government to restore its employees'
function as "the servants of the nation" rather than as active
political advocates. By making the four million members of the
Civil Servants Corps Golkar activists, the government runs the
risk of weakening the nation's resilience, Megawati said.

She was referring to the support that Golkar has enjoyed from
the corps. An official recently stated that "all civil servants
must vote for Golkar".

Megawati also called on the Golput (white group), a
disenchanted group of people who abstain from voting, to join PDI
instead of remaining voiceless.

"Our door is wide open and we'll receive you warmly," she
promised.

During the gathering, at which no representatives of either
the government or the rival Golkar and PPP were present, Megawati
defended her position as the legal chairperson of the party and
implored all members to consolidate.

"Don't be swerved by money or position, but let's stand proud
and tall in our struggle to achieve our mission," she said.

PDI was formed in 1973 when five former nationalist and
Christian political parties merged. The consolidating parties
were the Indonesian Nationalist Party, the Murba Party, the
Independence Vanguard Party, the Indonesian Catholic Party and
the Christian Party. (imn/swe)

Photo -- Page 2