More doors shut on Golkar party
More doors shut on Golkar party
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar Party, blamed for the economic and
political crisis, has suffered more humiliating rejections in
Central Sulawesi and Central Java.
In the Central Sulawesi regency of Buol Tolitoli, nine
political parties issued a joint petition in which they demanded
that Golkar be banned from campaigning because it violated too
many rules.
Meanwhile, in the Central Java town of Kendal, a crowd set
fire Tuesday night to a stage erected for a Golkar campaign.
The Kendal incident was the latest Golkar has suffered in
Central Java recently. Last month, Golkar supporters were
attacked by a mob wearing Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan) attributes.
On Monday, the motorcade of party chief Akbar Tanjung was
pelted with stones in Jakarta by people who claimed that Golkar
officials failed to honor their promise to give them money if
they would take part in that day's campaign.
Arief Muluk, chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), and
one of the nine parties issuing the joint statement in Buol
Tolitoli said the petition was issued after their formal
complaint with the local elections committee went unheeded.
In their joint petition, the parties revealed the numerous
violations of electoral rules Golkar Party committed. For
example, officials of Paleleh subdistrict intimidated residents
who support other parties.
Golkar officials visited Paleleh residents on a door-to-door
basis, promising the villagers financial assistance if they vote
for Golkar Party in next month's election, the petition said.
Local government officials are also accused of offering social
safety net funds and cheap farming credit only to people who are
committed to voting for Golkar.
Separately, Helmy D. Yambas, deputy chief of the Central
Sulawesi Golkar chapter, said Golkar as an organization was not
responsible for what the Paleleh bureaucrats did as the party
alliance claimed.
Moreover, he said, the parties had no authority to ban any
party from campaigning.
The party alliance consists of PAN, PDI Perjuangan, United
Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB), Crescent
Star Party (PBB), Nahdlatul Umat Party (PNU), Muslim Community
Awakening Party (PKU) and Indonesian United Islam Party (PSII).
Meanwhile, Slamet Effendi Yusuf, one of Golkar's deputy
chiefs, said in Semarang yesterday that the party wants to see
former president Soeharto brought to trial on corruption charges.
"I have repeatedly demanded that the Habibie government move
to combat corruption, collusion and nepotism as well as bring the
Soeharto case to court as the People's Consultative Assembly has
commissioned," he told journalists. (38/har)