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)
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