REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, AMBON -- Ambon, Maluku, March 11 (Antara) - Minister Yasonna Laoly's decision to recognize Agung Laksono's leadership was strategic for President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) government, Constitutional observer Ismael Ramadhan of the Ambon Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) stated.

"Since the beginning, I have forecast that Bakrie's camp will lose. Laksono's camp must have something at play. Thus, the minister's decision will benefit Jokowi and Jusuf Kalla," Ramadhan remarked here on Tuesday.

According to Ramadhan, a similar pattern had been observed some time ago in the case of the United Development Party (PPP) factional conflict. The justice minister finally recognized the PPP leadership under Romahurmuziy.

"I have no intention to make a slander or to discredit anyone behind the conflicts within the Golkar Party and PPP. But, those who understand politics must know the players behind the political dynamism who aim to weaken the Red-White-Coalition (KMP which groups opposition parties)," Ramadhan emphasized.

On Tuesday, Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly affirmed that the government has decided to give its official recognition to the Golkar party under Laksono.

"After receiving a decision from the party's tribunal and studying it carefully, we decided to go with the party's tribunal decision to give recognition to the Central Executive Board formed during the Ancol congress in Jakarta," Laoly stated during 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 factions: one faction under Aburizal Bakrie following a congress in Bali and another under the leadership of Agung Laksono after a decision taken in another congress in Ancol, Jakarta.

The government's decision is in line with Law Number 2 of 2008 on Political Parties, the minister stated.

"We make the decision based on the law on political parties that the decision of a party's tribunal is final and binding," he stressed.

The decision is consistent with a letter sent by the minister on Dec. 15 in 2014 regarding the Bali Congress and the one in Ancol that the party's dispute should be settled internally through its tribunal.

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

With regard to the lawsuit filed by Bakrie in the MA, the minister stated that it is his right.

The minister also clarified that he would not come in the way of Bakrie's camp if it wants to challenge the government's decision by contesting it in the State Administrative Court (PTUN).

"We have to make a decision," he reiterated, adding that even for Agung Laksono and his faction, including Secretary General Zainuddin Amali, there is a legal mechanism in place by approaching the PTUN if they were not satisfied with the decision.

"We play under a set of regulations. We just go by it," he noted.

He expressed hope that Laksono could approach Bakrie in forming a good and effective executive board of the party.

After a series of meetings, the party's tribunal issued a decision related to dualism in the party leadership.

Two of the tribunal judges Djasri Marin and Andi Mattalatta decided in favor of Golkar under Laksono, saying that 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 only offered recommendation to Bakrie's camp to appeal in the Supreme Court.

According to Muladi, HAS Natabaya and him had proposed that whoever emerged victorious should avoid taking over the entire structure of the party leadership and reinstalling cadres who were dismissed earlier before the presidential election and must show appreciation to the defeated rival. The defeated camp should promise not to work towards forming a new party.

However, the Laksono camp has already reported to the justice and human rights ministry about the composition of the executive council, which was earlier decided during the Ancol Congress.

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