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Aburizal ignores Golkar reconciliation hearing
Muladi / JPA party hearing set up to resolve Golkar Partyâs internal conflict kicked off Wednesday at their headquarters in Slipi, West Jakarta, with the camp loyal to party chairman Aburizal Bakrie failing to show up
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Muladi / JP
A party hearing set up to resolve Golkar Party's internal conflict kicked off Wednesday at their headquarters in Slipi, West Jakarta, with the camp loyal to party chairman Aburizal Bakrie failing to show up.
The absence of Aburizal's camp has left representatives from Agung Laksono's side as the only party answering queries from a panel in the hearing.
Golkar senior politicians Muladi, Andi Mattalatta, Djasri Marin and HAS Natabaya served as members of a panel in the hearing.
'We can guarantee the independence of this hearing because we have resigned from our positions in both factions of the party,' Muladi said in his opening statement.
The decision to hold the hearing came after the court declined decide which leader is the legal leader of Golkar. Instead of making the decision themselves, the Central Jakarta District Court ordered a party tribunal to determine which faction was legitimate.
The split emerged after a group of party members led by former coordinating minister for people's welfare Agung Laksono, protested against the party's decision to suspend the national congress scheduled for October last year until January this year.
The move ran into opposition from party members loyal to party chairman Aburizal Bakrie and his reelection campaign.
Aburizal's camp eventually held a national congress in Bali in November 2015, and reelected him for the 2014-2019 period. Meanwhile, Agung's camp held a separate congress in Ancol, North Jakarta, in December 2015, which concluded in Agung's election as the new chairman.
The camp loyal to Agung Laksono, slammed Aburizal's absence at the opening hearing and accused him of defying the court order.
'We respect the supremacy of the law and have complied with its demands. If they [Aburizal's camp] decline to show up, it means they don't respect the law,' said a spokesperson for Agung's camp, Leo Nababan.
On Tuesday, Aburizal camp treasurer Bambang Soesatyo expressed skepticism about the tribunal's independence and neutrality.
Aburizal's camp has been reluctant to attend the hearings, since the camp is still awaiting a decision in a separate lawsuit filed with the West Jakarta District Court.
Both Agung's and Aburizal's camps have registered the party's new executive board members resulting from each camp's congress with the Law and Human Rights Ministry.
The two camps have been involved in violent episodes in their efforts to control the party.
In December last year, Agung's supporters occupied the party's headquarters and engaged in a clash with supporters of Aburizal.
Muladi said that the infighting had been embarassing to the party.
