Sacked Golkar legislators protest their dismissal

Sacked Golkar legislators protest their dismissal

JAKARTA (JP): Three members of the dominant Golkar political
grouping protested their dismissal from the House of
Representatives (DPR) on Thursday, calling their leaders
authoritarian.

Mubha Kahar Muang, Indra Bambang Oetojo and Bachriyoen
Soetjipto, withdrawn from the House on Wednesday, separately said
they did not know the reasons for their dismissal.

They charged that Golkar had not changed despite the reform
era.

"I thought Golkar... would respect differences of opinion
among its representatives in the House and the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR). It did not," Mubha said as quoted by
Berita Buana on Thursday.

"I am surprised that in this era of openness, a difference of
opinion is considered as proof of mbalelo (rebelling against the
party line)," Mubha said.

She charged that Golkar, currently chaired by Akbar Tandjung,
was now more authoritarian than it was under its former chairman,
Harmoko.

"When Golkar's central board was set up in its last special
congress (in July), Akbar appeared to be more accommodative and
democratic. But on his way to leading the political grouping, he
has been infected by many viruses," he said.

The dismissal has also sparked harsh reaction from the Forum
for Communication of Servicemen's Children (FKPPI), who said in a
statement it was considering withdrawing its support for Golkar
in the next general election.

FKPPI chairman Didiet Haryadi Priyohutomo said his
organization was mulling over the possibility of joining the
Kemal Idris-led National Front.

The three dismissed Golkar representatives were also members
of the organization which was set up in August to act as a force
for government opposition. Three other executives of the National
Front -- Siswono Yudohusodo, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and Hayono
Isman -- were also dismissed by Golkar from the MPR.

"We will take a clear stand. Why would we give our support to
Golkar if it persecutes our executives? If Golkar continues
sacking its good cadres such as Siswono Yudohusodho, Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja and Hayono Isman, it will be divided," he said.

Sixty-seven MPR members were dismissed on Wednesday, 37 of
which were from the dominant Golkar faction, three from the PPP
faction, 19 Regional Representatives and eight from the Armed
Forces (ABRI) faction.

Most of the Golkar members recalled from the MPR are former
ministers. They are Siswono, Sarwono, Hayono, Haryanto
Dhanutirto, Azwar Anas, Moerdiono, Djamaluddin Suyohadikusumo,
Saleh Afiff, I.B. Soedjana, Sony Harsono, Mar'ie Muhammad,
Tarmizi Taher, Wardiman Djojonegoro, Subyakto Tjakrawerdaya,
Endang K. Inten Suweno, Sanyoto Sastrowardojo, Abdul Latief,
Ibrahim Hasan, TB Silalahi, Joop Ave, Radinal Moochtar, Sujudi,
Saadilah Mursyid, Tunky Ariwibowo.

Three serving ministers -- Tanri Abeng, Rahardi Ramelan and
Giri Suseno -- were also recalled.

New MPR members from Golkar include Mansyur Maksum, Reinout
Sylvanus, Chris Kanter, Simon Petrus Siliwoa, Basri Hasanuddin,
Jimmy Ibrahim, Firdaus M., Tjarda Muchtar, Selamat Limbong and
Toto Suwarto.

New faces in ABRI's faction include Lt. Gen. Johny Lumintang,
chief of ABRI's School of Command (Sesko ABRI); Maj. Gen. Sudi
Silalahi, assistant to ABRI's chief of Socio-political Affairs;
and J.B. Wirawan. They replaced Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto;
Lt. Gen. M. Yunus Yosfiah, current minister of information; and
Maj. Gen. Safrie Syamsoeddin, an assistant to ABRI's chief of
general affairs.

In the Regional Representatives faction, Coordinating Minister
for Political and Security Affairs Feisal Tanjung was appointed
to replace Ma'ruf Amin, while Tuswandi replaced Yusril Ihza
Mahendra, the leader of the Bulan-Bintang Party; and Bomer
Pasaribu, the deputy chairman of the Federation of All Indonesian
Workers Union (FSPSI) took the place of Farid A. Moeloek, the
current minister of health.

In addition, Rofiqul Uman replaced Minister of Mines and
Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, Maktub Effendi replaced Minister of
Finance Bambang Subianto, Dipo Alam replaced Minister of
Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono and Nopirin replaced
Minister/Chairman of the National Board for Development Planning
Boediono.

Akbar said the Golkar dismissals were carried out because many
were no longer loyal to the political grouping. (rms)