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)