More opposition to planned Golkar Party function

SEMARANG (JP): Kendal joined Surakarta on Thursday in calling on Golkar Party to cancel a planned function with local supporters.

A member of Kendal's elections supervisory committee, Sudarto, told The Jakarta Post the committee would ask local Golkar chief Gempur Bambang to call off the function, scheduled for April 10. Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung is expected to speak at the gathering.

"It's feared the event will spark unrest similar to that which occurred in Purbalingga and Surabaya and we don't want to be blamed for not reminding Golkar of the potential for violence," Sudarto said.

Following the Purbalingga incident on Friday last week, the General Elections Commission (KPU) urged all 48 parties contesting the June 7 general election to delay all gatherings until the campaign period begins on May 19.

KPU has sent a team to Purbalingga to investigate the clashes between Golkar supporters and a group of people wearing Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) attributes. Police arrested 37 people and indicted eight of them for their involvement in the incident.

PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Dimyati Hartono, who recently visited the Central Java town, said in Jakarta on Thursday the fray was sparked because Golkar was allowed to hold a gathering despite the regency elections committee's ban against all mass rallies prior to the campaign period.

Citing security concerns, the head of the Surakarta elections committee, Zainal Maarif, asked Golkar on Wednesday to delay its scheduled April 17 gathering.

The chief of Golkar's Kendal branch, Gempur, said he would consult his colleagues about the elections supervisory committee's objections.

Gempur said Akbar had yet to confirm his presence at the function. "Even if he (Akbar) comes, he will address Golkar supporters behind closed-doors. There will be no huge mass gathering."

In Surakarta, the chief of the local Golkar branch, Yusuf Hidayat, said preparations for the April 17 meeting were going forward despite the elections committee's request to cancel the function.

"There are no changes in plans as far as we have heard from Golkar executives in Jakarta," Yusuf said.

Defense

In Pengkep, South Sulawesi, Golkar executive Arnold Baramuli defended his party's policy of defying KPU calls against early electioneering.

"We are not holding rallies but family get-togethers. We have planned as many gatherings as possible to promote our new status as a political party," Baramuli said. "But unfortunately other parties are jealous of our success in gathering huge crowds."

Golkar chairman Akbar said in Jakarta the party's planned gatherings would go ahead as planned if the police allowed them. "We have complied with the rules and have never intended to disturb anybody," said Akbar, who also is Minister/State Secretary.

Golkar deputy chairman Theo Sambuaga supported Akbar, saying the planned gatherings merely would serve as a means to consolidate party members and supporters prior to the election.

He insisted Golkar was committed to a free, fair, transparent and democratic election.

While Golkar seems to have dismissed KPU's call against precampaign gatherings, fellow poll favorite the National Mandate Party (PAN) is awaiting further instructions from the commission.

PAN chairman Amien Rais said he understood KPU's suggestion, but demanded further elaboration. "The ruling must be clear about what kind of gatherings are banned." (har/amd/30/edt)