Negotiators From Two Camps In Golkar Party Meet

Jakarta, Dec 23 (Antara) - Negotiators from the two rival camps in Golkar Party met for the first time here on Tuesday to discuss reconciliation. "Now (meeting with the Agung Laksono camp) is the first stage to discuss reconciliation," stated Sjarif Cicip Sutardjo, one of the negotiators from the Aburizal Bakrie camp. He emphasized that reconciliation will be the main issue to be discussed with the Agung Laksono camp. "We just agreed to the agenda that has been prepared (about negotiators, vision and mission, and reconciliation)," he affirmed. He declined having received any special directive from Aburizal Bakrie, the party`s general chairman who was elected in a congress in Bali. He said Bakrie merely requested him to get a clear picture of the rival camp`s expectations from the meeting, which began at around 3:45 p.m. local time. Negotiators from the Agung Laksono camp in the meeting include Andi Mattalata, Priyo Budi Santoso, Ibnu Munzir, Agun Gunandhar Sudarsa, and Yorrys Raweyai. Negotiators from the Aburizal Bakrie camp were Syarif Cicip, M.S. Hidayat, and Theo Sambuaga, while Aziz Syamsuddin and Freddy Latumahina, who were expected to attend the meeting, were not seen at the location. The Golkar Party had split due to internal conflicts under the leadership of Aburizal Bakrie and Agung Laksono who were respectively elected in the congress in Bali and Jakarta. The government had declared both as legitimate.