... How do you know if we just had a meeting?...Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla acknowledged meeting Golkar Party Deputy Chairman Agung Laksono to discuss the latest condition of the party, which was facing an internal rift.
"How do you know if we just had a meeting?" Kalla questioned the press after attending the peak observation ceremony of the Indonesian Teacher Day 2014 and the 69th anniversary celebrations of the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) here on Thursday.
Agung Laksono met the vice president at the latter's official residence at 7 am local time, on Thursday (Nov 27). The meeting was not included in the vice president's official agenda, and thus, the press was not aware of it.
Kalla said he only discussed the latest condition of the Golkar Party and was seeking the best possible solutions to prevent a rift in the political party.
Kalla, who is a former general chairman of Golkar, stated that his meeting with Agung should not be misinterpreted as him intervening in the political affairs of the party.
"The government does not want to intervene in the affairs of the Golkar Party," he stressed.
He also denied claims that the government was intervening in the Golkar conflict by banning the party from organizing a congress in Bali, on November 30, 2014, by the Golkar General Chairman Aburizal Bakrie, among others.
"We are not intervening. The government only views matters from the security aspect owing to the fact that Bali is a tourist resort province. What will happen if clashes break out and the masses bring sharp weapons? It will come to the notice of the international community," the vice president added.
In the meeting with Agung, Kalla also expressed hope that the two conflicting parties will seek a middle way to the problem through a democratic solution. There should be no intimidation and intervention that will hinder the democratic process.
"It is better for Golkar to seek the middle way, and I believe it could be accepted by both sides. There should be no intimidation and intervention from any party," he affirmed.
Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
