Yunus questions use of civil servants corps

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus is extending his critical voice from media rights to address the issue of civil servants.

On Monday he said the compulsory organization for civil servants, Korpri, "is of no use," Antara reported, and that no one should be blamed if members agreed to dissolve the body.

Analysts and politicians have said Korpri's main function has been for the purpose of Golkar's political machine. Its members, which now reach some four million, along with their family members, used to be a major source of votes for Golkar in elections.

Well before the campaign season began, Korpri's chairman Feisal Tamin said members were free to vote for any party, and a rule was issued ensuring the neutrality of civil servants.

The minister, who is known for his advocacy for a free press, made the remark regarding plans to disperse the Korpri unit at his ministry.

Yunus denied a statement made by Feisal, in which the chairman implied that any member supporting such plans would no longer be a Korpri member.

"There's no link between Korpri and civil servants," Yunus said. "It is the government which appoints civil servants."

Calls have also been made to disperse the official organization of civil servants' wives, Dharma Wanita. The organization was influential in the past at garnering votes for Golkar. The organization has also drawn criticism for forcing women to be active in the organization in order to bolster evaluation of their husbands' work.(anr)