Soeharto misses Golkar ceremony

Soeharto misses Golkar ceremony

Senior Golkar figures attend an award presentation ceremony
during a reception at Jakarta's Balai Kartini hall to celebrate
the party's 41st anniversary.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was also present at the
reception.

At the event on Saturday night, Golkar leader and Vice
President Jusuf Kalla conferred the "Anugerah Bhakti Pratama" or
Dedicated Service Award on five of the party's six most senior
figures including former president B.J. Habibie.

The award presentation was apparently aimed at boosting the
popularity of Kalla and improving the internal consolidation of
the country's largest party.

Habibie did not show up but his son Ilham Habibie (far left)
received the award on his behalf.

Other recipients include former justice minister Oetojo Oesman
(second left), former state secretary Moerdiono (fourth left) and
former manpower minister Cosmas Batubara (third left) as well as
former Indonesian Teachers Association chairman Basyuni
Suryamihardja (second right).

As expected earlier, former president Soeharto, who formerly
chaired Golkar's board of patrons, did not appear at the
reception to receive the award. Nor did a family member or
relative represent him at the event.

Soeharto had reportedly set a requirement that he would only
accept the award if Golkar helped "clarify" his legal status
before the courts. The party has promised to discuss this issue.

The 83-year-old former strongman is a prime suspect in several
graft cases but the Attorney General's Office has never taken him
to court, accepting claims that he is too ill to face trial.

President Susilo accompanied by First Lady Kristiani Herawati
also attended the reception along with several ministers.
However, although the event organizers had scheduled him to
address the forum, he did not make a speech.

In a political statement read out by Kalla, Golkar reaffirmed
its position as the main supporter of the Susilo administration
as it was seeking more Cabinet seats.

It also supported Susilo's move to evaluate the performances
of all Cabinet members after one year in office before announcing
a Cabinet shakeup.

Analysts have said Susilo and Kalla, who were reported to have
engaged in rivalry, were trying to use Golkar for a political
consolidation process in a bid to make their government more
effective over the next four years. -- JP