An unlikely duet<\/p>\n
After two days of tense meetings, Indonesia's highest policy-
\nmaking body, the People's Consultative Assembly, has put its
\nfaith in Hamzah Haz, chairman of the United Development Party
\n(PPP), to assist President Megawati Soekarnoputri as the
\ncountry's vice president.<\/p>\n
In stark contrast to the election of Megawati as president
\nlast Monday, which practically constituted a mere brief
\nformality, voting for the vice-presidential position proceeded
\nfar more tediously. At the end of the two-day process Hamzah
\ndefeated his closest rival, Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung,
\nby a vote of 340 to 237.<\/p>\n
Skeptics might call it the best of the worst outcomes
\npossible. But then, many Indonesians also consider Thursday's
\noutcome the best that could have been achieved under the
\ncountry's current political constellation.<\/p>\n
To be elected, Hamzah has had to defeat not only Akbar
\nTandjung, but military candidates Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and
\nAgum Gumelar, and civilian politician Siswono Yudohusodo.<\/p>\n
Among prodemocracy activists though, Akbar is too closely
\nassociated with former president Soeharto's corrupt and
\nautocratic New Order regime to be anywhere near being considered
\nacceptable. He held a number of Cabinet positions during
\nSoeharto's administration and was at that time already a
\nprominent Golkar figure -- the New Order's political vehicle.<\/p>\n
Many observers believe that to have Akbar Tandjung in the
\nvice-presidential seat would have encumbered rather than helped
\nPresident Megawati in carrying out her duties, which no one
\ndisputes as being colossal. Indeed, many Jakartans believed it
\nwise to prepare themselves for massive protest demonstrations
\nshould Akbar have been elected.<\/p>\n
As far as the public is concerned -- if media polls can be
\nconsidered accurate -- the candidate most people wanted to be
\nelected vice president was Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whom
\nanalysts have called \"a thinking Army general\" because of his
\nintellectual capabilities and wide range of interests.
\nFurthermore, his impressive performance in coping with the
\ncurrent political crisis should not be forgotten.<\/p>\n
Susilo, however, held an important position in the military's
\nranks at the time of the New Order crackdown on Megawati's
\nmarginalized Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction in Jakarta
\nin 1996. It is, therefore, doubtful whether Megawati, who is now
\nPresident of the country, would be all too happy having him as
\nher deputy, notwithstanding his intellectualism and impressive
\nperformance record.<\/p>\n
Agum Gumelar is seen to be close to Megawati, a fact which
\nagain dates back to the days of the 1996 crackdown, during which
\ntime he was regarded as having protected Megawati. His track
\nrecord in state affairs, however, is little known aside from his
\nbrief stint as minister of communications in an earlier
\nAbdurrahman Wahid Cabinet lineup.<\/p>\n
Hamzah Haz, on the other hand, is an experienced politician.
\nBut he comes from what observers might describe as a conservative
\nMuslim background, while Megawati's strong nationalist and
\nsecular outlook is well known. After all, she has inherited much
\nof her political beliefs from her father, Indonesia's founding
\npresident Sukarno.<\/p>\n
It may be recalled how, during the run-up to the 1999 general
\nelection, Hamzah Haz, together with several other Muslim groups,
\npromoted the idea that Islam forbids a woman from becoming
\npresident. The question that now begs to be asked is whether his
\npresent turn-around merely constitutes a political tactic that,
\nin time, will prove to be detrimental to Megawati's presidency.<\/p>\n
We certainly hope not. After all, in the past, Muslims and
\nnationalists have worked together fruitfully and effectively for
\nthe good of the nation. To endlessly continue the present
\nbickering among political factions would only mean prolonging the
\nhardships under which 210 million Indonesians must live. It is
\ntime that this country's politicians start putting the nation's
\nand the people's interests above their own.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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