"We make the decision based on the law on political parties that the decision of a party`s tribunal is final and binding," Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H Laoly said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H Laoly said the government has decided to give its official recognition to the Golkar party under Agung Laksono.

"After we received a decision from the partys tribunal and after studying it carefully we decided as the partys tribunal has decided to give recognition to the Central Executive Board formed in the Ancol congress in Jakarta," Yasonna Laoly said in a news conference here on Tuesday.

The central executive board of the party that garnered the second largest votes in the last election was split into two -- one from a congress in Bali under Aburizal Bakrie and another from another congress in Ancol, Jakarta under Agung Laksono.

The governments decision is in line with regulation on political parties No. 2 in 2008, the minister said.

"We make the decision based on the law on political parties that the decision of a partys tribunal is final and binding," he said.

The decision is consistent with a letter of the minister on Dec. 15 in 2014 on the Bali Congress and the one in Ancol that the partys dispute should be settled internally through the partys tribunal.

"This is not easy for me as it involves my friends in both sides - Aburizal, Azis Syamsuddin, Bambang Susatyo and Idrus Marham in one side and Agung and Priyo in the other side. This is a difficult decision I have to take. I really did not enjoy it, but I have to make a decision," Yasonna said.

He said as for the lawsuit filed by Aburizal Bakrie to the Supreme Court it is his right .

The minister also would not come in the way of the Aburizal Bakrie camp if it wants to challenge the government decision by making a case against it at the State Administrative Court (PTUN).

"We have to make a decision," he repeated, adding, even for Agung Laksono and his faction secretary general Zainuddin Amali , there is a legal mechanism by going to the PTUN if they were not satisfied with the decision. We play under a set of regulations. We just go by it," he said.

He said he did hope that Agung Laksono could approach Aburizal Bakrie in forming a good and effective executive board of the party.

The partys Tribunal, after a series of meetings issued a decision related to dualism in the pasty leadership .

Two of the tribunal judges Djasri Marin and Andi Mattalatta decided in favor of Golkar under Agung Laksono, saying the Bali Congress was "not transparent, not democratic and not aspirational, while describing the Ancol Congress as being held "transparently and democratically."

Two other judges Muladi and HAS Natabaya gave only recommendation for the Aburizal Bakrie camp to appeal to the Supreme Court .

Muladi said HAS Natabaya and himself suggested that whoever was the victor should avoid taking the entire structure of the party leadership, reinstall cadres who were dismissed earlier before the presidential election and gave appreciation to the defeated rival. The defeated camp should promise not to seek to form a new party .

However, the Agung Laksono camp already reported the composition of the executive council as decided at the Ancol Congress to the justice and human rights ministry.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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