Petisi 50 calls for dissolution of 'arrogant' Golkar

JAKARTA (JP): The Petisi 50 group of government critics has lashed out at Golkar over the dominant political grouping's refusal to apologize to the nation for political mistakes made under Soeharto's New Order regime.

"Golkar's refusal to apologize was not only a display of its arrogance, it also demonstrates its reluctance to carry out substantial changes," group leader Ali Sadikin said on Thursday.

In a media conference here, Ali also said the reform movement would benefit from the dissolution of Golkar, arguing that a healthier and more democratic political climate would result.

"Golkar seems to have failed to realize that what needs to be changed from the New Order political culture is how the political elite disrespects people, ignores human rights and dignity, and how the political elite (Golkar) stubbornly ignores calls that it apologize for mistakes that caused the people suffering."

Ali Sadikin acknowledged claims that Golkar could not bear all the blame for numerous social, political and economic mistakes under Soeharto. He said the blame actually lay with all components of the New Order's political machine, especially Soeharto.

"Soeharto, who was president and head of state for 32 years, as well as the Armed Forces (ABRI) with its social and political roles, must also apologize to the nation," Ali said.

"An apology would show that they have good will, and that they realize the existing political system and culture has impinged on people's sovereignty, violated justice, and caused widespread suffering," he said.

A refusal to apologize meant that "Golkar did not have the will to carry on with democratization, as demanded by reform. This provides all the more reason to dissolve Golkar and allow democratization to commence."

Golkar celebrated its 34th anniversary on Tuesday by refusing public calls for an apology over its role in helping to create a political system that enabled power to become concentrated in Soeharto's hands, and which then crashed with painful social, economic and political consequences.

The refusal has invited criticism from various quarters.

However, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung claimed that from now on the grouping would commit itself to reform and democratization. The political grouping has renamed itself "New Golkar."

CSIS

Separately on Thursday, New Golkar's deputy chairman Slamet Efendy Yusuf was quoted as saying by Antara that calls for an apology have been "politicized" and were meant to push the grouping into a corner.

"What's ironic is that those who outspokenly (criticized Golkar) were actually among the 'big sinners' in the past," he said.

Slamet passed the blame onto the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a think-tank of the New Order regime which in the late 1970s laid the foundations for the regime's subsequent political and economic policies.

"If we study the political history of Indonesia during the New Order's 32 years, it's clear that the thinking behind policies, be they political or economic, were dominated by the CSIS."

New Golkar deputy secretary-general Dien Syamsuddin concurred. "Kristiadi, the deputy director of CSIS, has groundlessly accused Golkar of being arrogant and we strongly refute that statement," he said as quoted by Antara.

"New Golkar is now humbling itself and is working to make improvements," he said.

Complicated

Elsewhere on Thursday, President B.J. Habibie opened the fifth congress of AMPI, a youth organization affiliated to Golkar. In his address, Habibie acknowledged the complexities of a democratic system and said it could only thrive among people capable of mature thought.

"Democracy can only thrive if the people are broad-minded and have the tolerance to accept different opinions in a society where heterogeneity is respected," he said at the State Palace.

"Democracy can develop only if all parties are ready to uphold political ethics, justice and legal norms.

"Otherwise, democracy will turn into a joke that will make the people laugh. Moreover, democracy can turn into anarchy if political activists are immature.

"It is impossible to achieve democracy through anarchic ways," he added. (swe/prb)