Amien calls for discussion of succession<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Political observer Amien Rais over the
\nweekend made a fresh call on decision makers, intellectuals and
\nthe public to discuss the issue of presidential succession \"in a
\ntransparent, honest and responsible manner\".<\/p>\n
The staff lecturer at Gadjah Mada University said here on
\nSaturday that the question of succession is actually the essence
\nof all political matters here.<\/p>\n
\"Let's not deny this fact,\" he urged in an interview with The
\nJakarta Post. \"Succession is the 'heart' of Indonesian politics.
\nMany other political issues that people raise are superficial.\"<\/p>\n
Amien was commenting on the conflict within the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) and Indonesian politics in general.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the various political disputes that have
\noccurred over the past years are actually \"symptoms\" of an
\nunaddressed problem, namely presidential succession.<\/p>\n
\"We should have the courage to face the problem,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The chairman of Indonesia's reformist Moslem organization,
\nMuhammadiyah, first brought up the issue of succession in
\nDecember 1993, only months after the nation re-elected President
\nSoeharto to his sixth consecutive term. \"There is no other
\noption, presidential succession must occur in 1998,\" he said
\nthen.<\/p>\n
The issue, a long-time political no-no, immediately snowballed
\nand sparked controversy. Some people supported Amien's ideas,
\nwhile others, including Golkar chairman Harmoko, condemned the
\nideas as \"premature\" and even \"unethical\".<\/p>\n
President Soeharto himself responded to the clamor by stating
\nlast year that he had no intention of becoming \"president for
\nlife\".<\/p>\n
\"I still believe in what I said four years ago, that we all
\nshould tackle the issue responsibly and as early as possible,\"
\nAmien told the Post.<\/p>\n
Public discourse, he said, should be undertaken rationally and
\nrealistically. \"If the public decides that (the country) doesn't
\nneed a succession of leadership yet, as a democrat I would
\nacquiesce.\"<\/p>\n
On the other hand, he said, those who support the status quo
\nshould accept the possibility of the public and the People's
\nConsultative Assembly opting for new national leaders, he said.<\/p>\n
Political observer Susilo Utomo of Diponegoro University in
\nSemarang seconded Amien, saying that discussion of succession
\nshould no longer be taboo.<\/p>\n
\"In fact, we should give priority to the issue. Do we need
\nsuccession or not?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
He noted, however, that, should it occur, succession must take
\nplace without causing upheaval. \"Let's not have new leaders
\nthrough revolution,\" he said. \"Our new president should come from
\na natural, democratic process.\"<\/p>\n
President Soeharto returned on Saturday from a week-long trip
\nto Germany for a medical checkup. The secrecy initially
\nsurrounding the trip sparked speculation about his true state of
\nhealth and about the future of Indonesian politics.<\/p>\n
In Bandung, West Java, a non-governmental organization called
\non the nation to better prepare itself for an inevitable change
\nin leadership.<\/p>\n
The Nusantara Legal Aid Institute suggested giving a greater
\nrole to the vice president, which would allow him to step into
\nthe President's shoes should the latter die, step down or become
\nunable to perform his duties.<\/p>\n
Chairman Effendi Saman cited chapter 8 of the 1945
\nConstitution which says that a vice president should take office
\nif one of the three situations occurs.<\/p>\n
\"The vice president has a strategic role to play,\" he told a
\npress conference last week. (har\/31\/swe\/17)<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/amien-calls-for-discussion-of-succession-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }