Jakarta – Political experts had mixed opinions on the possibility of a return of the Soeharto clan to Indonesian politics through the Golkar Party.
"The Cendanas (the Soeharto clan's nickname) probably see that this is the right time to enter politics by rejoining Golkar," a political expert from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Lili Romli, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
"Their main target is the 2014 general elections because by that time most people will probably have forgotten about the family's past sins."
The name "Cendana", referring to Soeharto's extended family, was derived from his private residence on Jl. Cendana in the upmarket Central Jakarta residential area of Menteng. In addition to being Indonesia's president for 32 years, Soeharto also served as the Golkar chief patron from the time the political powerhouse was established from various anti-communist groups in 1964.
Lili believed there were still many Soeharto supporters out there and that Golkar would be able to increase its voter base by utilizing his legendary name.
"Soeharto was the man who built Golkar. Therefore, his name will also serve as a means for Golkar to rediscover its identity," he said.
"Golkar is now a party with no figure to look up to. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) always looks up to the image of Sukarno. I think Golkar should do the same with Soeharto and his family," she said
However, an expert from Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University, Ari Sujito, said Golkar would only take a step backward if it used Soeharto's name and image.
"Golkar is now losing its political capital. Therefore, its elite are desperately looking for any possible means to regain power," Ari said. "If Golkar decides to embrace the Cendanas' return, it means the party elite have lost their common sense."
The director of the Research Institute for Democracy and a Prosperous State (Pedoman), Fadjroel Rachman, echoed Ari's sentiments, saying the Cendanas' return was not the answer to save Golkar from its declining popularity.
"The move will only benefit the Cendanas because they need Golkar to protect themselves from investigations into their past corruption cases," he said.
"They remain untouched until now because they are under the protection of Golkar and its current 2004 coalition partner, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his Democratic Party (PD)."
Fadjroel said the Cendanas were now in a panic because they see Golkar and Yudhoyono will probably not be able to protect them by 2014.
The issue of the Cendanas' return to Golkar and politics was sparked by a statement made by Muchtar Herman Patimah of the Mutual Assistance Consultative Organization (MKGR), a faction within Golkar, to inilah.com. "It is now time for the Cendanas to return to Golkar. The plans have been set," Muchtar said.
An executive from Golkar, Poempida Hidayatullah, said the party would greatly welcome the Cendanas with open arms.
"I don't mind having the Cendanas in Golkar. I see that they have a lot of potential to offer," Poempida said. "People cannot deny the fact that a large portion of Soeharto's administrations were filled with economic success and efficiency."
Poempida, however, stressed that the Cendanas had to go through proper party mechanisms to gain top positions, regardless of their past relationships with Golkar. "They must also adapt to the fact that these days are no longer the New Order era," he said. (hdt)