Political parties support Golkar redefinition idea
Political parties support Golkar redefinition idea
JAKARTA (JP): The two minority parties -- the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) -- supported yesterday the idea of redefining Golkar's position in the political system.
PPP's secretary-general, Tosari Widjaya, and PDI legislator V.B. da Costa agreed with constitutional law expert Harun Alrasyid who said recently that Golkar should be declared a political party.
Golkar stands for Golongan Karya (Functional Group) and does not call itself a political party, even though it contests elections and is the dominant group in Indonesian politics.
"Golkar plays the role of a political party. It should, therefore, declare itself a political party," Tosari said.
Da Costa, who is PDI's member of House Commission III for Legal Affairs, said Golkar's activities were similar to those of a political party so its name should be changed to that of a political party.
"If Golkar understood the definition of a political party, it would realize that it should have not conducted political activities," he said.
On Monday University of Indonesia law professor Harun Alrasyid said Golkar should not take up seats in the House of Representatives as long as it refused to call itself a party.
At a seminar on Golkar's political concepts in Yogyakarta, Harun said Golkar's proper place was not the House of Representatives but the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Harun said Golkar should review its status because it was effectively a political party and no longer a functional group.
The 1945 Constitution's second article states that the House of Representatives is a forum for political parties and, he said, the constitution provided the MPR for functional groups.
He said if Golkar was a functional group its proper place was the MPR.
Tosari said there should be consensus among the three political organizations over what Golkar's position in the political system should be.
He agreed with Harun that with its current status, Golkar representatives should not sit in the House but in the MPR.
Meanwhile, Da Costa called for a thorough evaluation on Law No. 3/1985 on Political Parties and Golkar.
"The law does not define a political party's role and activities. It only stipulates the three contestants' participation in the general elections," he said.
Harun's opinion was strongly criticized by Suhardiman, one of Golkar's founders 33 years ago.
"Harun must be politically blind and have no knowledge of Golkar's history," said Suhardiman, who is chairman of the Golkar-affiliated workers' union SOKSI.
Golkar was formed with the help of the Army in 1964 to unite professional and nonpolitical groups to counter the growing strength of unions affiliated with the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).
The PKI was banned after its abortive coup attempt in 1965, and Golkar became Indonesia's dominant political force.
Golkar won 74 percent of the vote in last May's general election.
It was Golkar's sixth consecutive election win since 1971, when the first general election under the New Order government was held. (imn)