"I don`t think they will split. It should not happen. I am convinced they can still settle it. If the rift worsens, I will speak with seniors (of the party)," Kalla said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla expressed hope that the Golkar Party does not split and that a rival party does not emerge due to differences of opinion regarding the general chairmans position.

"I dont think they will split. It should not happen. I am convinced they can still settle it. If the rift worsens, I will speak with seniors (of the party)," Kalla told the press at the Presidential Palace here on Tuesday.

The vice president, who is a former general chairman of the Golkar Party, made the remarks in response to clashes between members of two camps of the party at its office in Jalan Anggrek Neli Murni, West Jakarta.

The two conflicting camps include groups who each claim belong to the Golkar Youth Wing, AMPG. While one side supports Yorrys Raweyai, a former chairman of the AMPG, and the other claims to be the true members of the AMPG.

Kalla stated that the internal issues of Golkar should be settled democratically; neither side should not exert pressure on the other, or even quarrel.

"They should not quarrel as it could lead to the involvement of the police," Kalla cautioned.

The vice president added that Golkar had faced a similar conflict when it was led by Akbar Tanjung. However, it did not involve physical altercations back then, only differences of views.

Kalla further noted that many cadres had reported to him on the failure of Aburizal Bakrie as the general chairman in leading Golkar.

"I told them that no one should take undemocratic actions and exert pressures," he affirmed.

Kalla is confident that the internal rift will be resolved, stating, "Friends in Golkar are all mature cadres."

Moreover, members of the AMPG stormed a Golkar Party central executive board meeting on Monday (November 24) evening protesting against their decision to accelerate the election of the next party leader.

The general chairman of the party, Aburizal "Ical" Bakrie, rushed to leave the meeting that was held to prepare a congress following the raid by the partys youth wing members, led by their former chief Raweyai.

Before leaving the meeting, Ical, along with loyalists Idrus Marham, Syarief Cicip Sutarjo, Nurdin Halid, Titiek Soeharto, Tantowi Yahya, and Theo L Sambuaga, hid in one of the rooms at the party headquarters.

"We wish to save the party," Raweyai remarked.

He explained that he hoped that the partys executive board would settle problems democratically, in accordance with the partys constitution.

There were indications that a group of people in the central executive board sought to lead the party for their own interest, he added.

"They have forced a congress through a national leadership meeting, as well as through a central executive board meeting. A congress should not be between individuals or a group but among all party cadres," he explained.

He further noted that pressure from young cadres of the Golkar Party was the reason behind his presence at the meeting, along with that of other AMPG members.

Raweyai stated that AMPG members were disappointed by the decision to hold the congress on November 30 in Bali, instead of in January 2015. They suspect that it was aimed at seeking acclamation for Bakries reelection.

"I told them if they continued with their decision to hold the congress on November 30, we will occupy the headquarters and ask the government through the police to cancel it," he remarked.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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