Ruling Golkar promises to tackle unemployment

Ruling Golkar promises to tackle unemployment

By Sugianto Tandra

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): An estimated 50,000 Golkar
supporters cheered as chairman Harmoko concluded the second day
of campaigning, promising to "eradicate unemployment".

Waving placards and banners, supporters in this North Sumatra
province shouted slogans supporting the development programs
under the New Order administration.

Several supporters -- their hair shaved in the shape of a
banyan tree or the number two which are the symbol and number of
the organization -- waved the flags of Golkar and its youth
organization.

"Golkar fights for the common people in the valleys, hills,
and on the coast of northern Sumatra. Golkar always pleases
people and never causes them problems," he shouted. The crowd
responded: "Long live Harmoko! Long live Golkar! Long live
President Soeharto!"

Harmoko asked fellow campaigner Rhoma Irama to join him on
center stage. The dangdut singer's change of political allegiance
from the Moslem-oriented United Development Party (PPP) to Golkar
caused an uproar which led to riots in Central Java.

Rhoma told supporters he was confident with his decision to
change to Golkar. He said Golkar had become more Islamic and more
committed to the faith and to religious values.

In Lhokseumawe, Aceh, Rhoma called on Indonesian Moslems to
vote for Golkar. "For me, Golkar is my only choice," he said.

He then rocked the audience with Begadang, which calls on
youths not to waste their nights doing things which are not
beneficial to their health.

Earlier in the day, in the predominately-Moslem Aceh city of
Lhokseumawe, Harmoko said Golkar intended to improve people's
welfare and promote religious life. He attributed the development
success of the New Order government to Golkar.

Addressing a gathering of 6,000 supporters, Harmoko said the
political organization intends to bring about "a multidimensional
economic development", one that pays as much attention to
physical and material development as to spiritual and religious
development.

He said Western-style economic development has never been
suitable for Indonesia. "Western-style economic development only
focuses on the development of material aspects, which created
individualistic, materialistic and hedonistic people," he said.

"We don't want those kind of people. We want Indonesians who
are whole."

He said the New Order government had increased the number of
mosques and other houses of worship, simplified procedures for
haj pilgrimage and strengthened solidarity between religions.

In Dili, East Timor Golkar figure Edi Sudradjat told thousands
of people never to question Golkar's seriousness in working to
improve people's welfare.

"Golkar came to this region and brought evidence of improved
welfare and economic development," said Edi, who is also Minister
of Defense and Security.

"Not only have we constructed roads and bridges, we have also
improved people's economic status, including that of the East
Timorese," he added.

He called on the East Timorese to vote for Golkar on May 29.

"Don't turn your eyes to left or the right. Just punch the
number in the center," he said, referring to Golkar's sequential
number of two.

Another Golkar speaker, Sjarifudin Baharsjah, said the group
has always made sure that companies and employers adhere to the
government-set minimum wage regulations.

Sjarifudin, who is also Minister of Agriculture, addressed
some 15,000 supporters in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra. "Golkar is
always taking sides with the workers," he said.

There are 2.2 million voters in Aceh, and 6.13 million in
North Sumatra.

In Pekanbaru, Riau, Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo said the political
group never turned a blind eye to signs of moral degradation such
as promiscuity and drug abuse caused by the misuse of the flow of
information.

Sanyoto, who is also Minister of Investment, said Golkar had
legal course to help combat the social ills.