Kalla said that parties could actually hold a congress anywhere as long as security authorities could assure that a clash, like the one that took place at the Golkar Party headquarters in Slipi, Jakarta, recently, will not happen.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla denied that the government intervened in the internal conflict of the Golkar Party by not allowing it to hold a congress in Bali.

"We did not intervene. However, the government would like to remind those involved about the security threat it (the congress) would pose in Bali, which is a tourism destination. What will happen if there are riots there and people fight using daggers? What will the world say about it?" he told newsmen at his office here on Wednesday.

He added that parties could actually hold a congress anywhere as long as security authorities could assure that a clash, like the one that took place at the Golkar Party headquarters in Slipi, Jakarta, recently, will not happen.

"A congress can be held anywhere as long as security authorities guarantee that it will be controlled. This does not translate to an intervention. The governments action must be seen from a security point of view," he stated.

Moreover, Kalla admitted that he had spoken to Aburizal Bakrie, the current general chairman of the Golkar Party, and Agung Laksono, a party figure who recently set up a presidium to take over Golkars management from Bakrie. He asked them to exercise restraint and prevent division or intimidation from happening.

"The two camps had better seek a democratic way (to resolve the issue) and not resort to any kind of intimidation or intervention so that democracy in the country is not hindered," he emphasized.

The vice president hoped that the conflict in the party could be peacefully settled soon by accommodating the parties involved.

Kalla further noted that if Golkar Party continued to be mired in this internal conflict, it is feared that the democratic way of functioning in the country will be affected significantly.

"They had better find a way to compromise. I am confident it can be achieved. But, I repeat, there must not be any intimidation or intervention from any party," he cautioned.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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