Petisi 50 calls for dissolution of 'arrogant' Golkar

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)