ARB Urged to Cancel Reconsiliation Meeting

Jakarta (Antara) - Bambang Soesatyo has urged Aburizal Bakrie to put an immediate stop to negotiations with the Agung Laksono camp to settle the dual leadership issue in the Golkar Party, citing they were futile. "The Agung Laksono camp has urged for the continuation of the planned reconciliation meeting on January 8, but I think it would be better for Aburizal Bakrie (the party's general chairman from the Bali congress) to immediately stop it because it is no longer useful," he noted in a text message received here on Tuesday. He said it would be unethical for them to ask for a reconciliation meeting, while concurrently rejecting to revoke their lawsuit in line with the deal made earlier. He noted that the court would be the best forum to determine which camp was the right one. "Although the law on political parties states that the lawsuit must be settled by the court within 60 days, ARB (Aburizal Bakrie) had better cancel the negotiations," he affirmed. Bambang said the third reason for him seeking a cancellation was regarding their demands, which could certainly not be fulfilled. He said that it appeared as though the Agung Laksono camp was trying to buy time while still harboring hopes of political support from the government. "The fifth reason is we have not seen any seriousness on the part of the camp from the Jakarta congress in seeking reconciliation for the interest of the political party's future," he pointed out. Bambang urged ARB to immediately withdraw the negotiating team and stop the attempt, adding it would be better for the party to settle the case in court. "Reconciliation could be carried out only after the court determines the winner. The next general elections are still five years ahead," he added. (*)