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