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Government aids Aburizal's detractors
The government has dragged itself into the escalating conflict within the Golkar Party, the second biggest legislative seat holder, by banning chairman Aburizal Bakrie from organizing a national congress in Bali this weekend
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he government has dragged itself into the escalating conflict within the Golkar Party, the second biggest legislative seat holder, by banning chairman Aburizal Bakrie from organizing a national congress in Bali this weekend.
A triumph of Indonesian politics for more than 30 years, Golkar is now on the brink of major turbulence with conflicting factions flexing their muscles to win the party's chairmanship succession scheduled for the congress.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Wednesday that holding the congress in Bali could pose a security threat and create a negative image of the tourist island, citing the conflict between Golkar's factions on Tuesday that had resulted in bloody violence.
'November and December are peak season for tourists. If a similar conflict took place in Bali, it could attract international attention, which would not be good for Indonesia,' Kalla, himself a former Golkar chairman, said at his office.
He said the escalating opposition to Aburizal had been triggered by mounting disappointment over the incumbent chairman's leadership.
Previously, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno also made a similar suggestion, calling on the police not to issue a permit for the party's congress in Bali.
National Police chief Gen. Sutarman admitted he had received written notification from Golkar about the plan to hold the congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.
'But we have not issued an official response yet, pending our analysis of potential security disturbances,' he said. 'In a major tourist attraction like Bali, security is top priority.'
Golkar executive Firman Subagyo accused the government of political intervention. 'Jokowi's administration must not interfere with parties' internal affairs, otherwise it will be no different to New Order's authoritarian leadership,' he said.
Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto shrugged off the accusation. 'There was no intention to intervene in Golkar's internal event. It is Tedjo's authority to ensure security in Bali, as part of Indonesia's efforts to promote Bali's tourism,' he said.
Golkar's splinter group led by deputy chairman Agung Laksono claimed that they had 'occupied' the party's headquarters in West Jakarta amid escalating tension between the group and the camp of chairman Aburizal Bakrie.
Supporters of Agung, who has established and is leading the so-called 'Presidium of Golkar Party's Saviors', also filed a request with the Law and Human Rights Ministry to register the new party national board executives, which excludes Aburizal and all of his men.
'We hope the ministry will legalize this new executive board within one or two days,' said lawmaker Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita from Agung's faction.
Lawmaker Agun Gunandjar said the chairman no longer had legitimacy as the leader of the party. 'His undemocratic manner and abuse of power are considered violations according to Golkar's statute,' he said.
Aburizal's camp flaunted support from the regions. In a declaration read out by the chairman of Golkar Southeast Sulawesi provincial chapter, Ridwan Bae, the provincial executives expressed their support.
'Golkar's statute does not recognize such a presidium [formed by Agung's camp],' he said before party cadres claiming to represent 31 of 34 provincial chapters.
