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Mubha Kahar Muang, Indra Bambang Oetojo and Bachriyoen Soetjipto, withdrawn from the House on Wednesday, separately said they did not know the reasons for their dismissal.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