More opposition to planned Golkar Party function

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)