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Aburizal hesitant on Golkar reconciliation
Disputed Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie appears reluctant to immediately follow up the governmentâs suggestion that his camp reconcile with a rival Golkar faction led by former deputy chairman Agung Laksono
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isputed Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie appears reluctant to immediately follow up the government's suggestion that his camp reconcile with a rival Golkar faction led by former deputy chairman Agung Laksono.
The government announced its decision on Tuesday to refuse to legalize either Golkar faction and instead, it urged both camps to settle the problem through reconciliation and internal mechanisms.
Aburizal, who had previously been optimistic that the government would issue a decision in favor of his camp, admitted he was disappointed.
'The government has conveyed its reasoning [behind its decision], of course we have to be ready for it,' he told the press in South Jakarta, a few hours after Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly announced the government's decision.
He added that he had asked his associates, such as MS Hidayat, who serves as Golkar executive chairman in Aburizal's faction; and Sharif Cicip Sutardjo (deputy chairman), to establish communication with Agung's camp.
Aburizal, however, expressed pessimism. 'If the efforts fail and we need to go to court to settle this, then we are ready,' he said.
A senior Golkar member who served as chief adviser to Aburizal, Akbar Tandjung, said he would seek ways to facilitate the reconciliation.
'But it takes time. We first need to establish a conducive atmosphere before reconciliation can take place,' he said, adding that complete settlement may be reached in six months at the earliest.
'If we rely on the process via the court, it could take months,' Akbar said.
Outspoken lawmaker Bambang Soesatyo, who is known to be a member of Aburizal's camp, slammed Yasonna's decision.
