Court deals Akbar an ace<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court's decision to acquit Golkar chairman Akbar
\nTandjung of corruption charges paves the way for his candidacy
\nfor the presidency and boosts the party's ambition to return to
\npower.<\/p>\n
Political analyst Denny JA said on Thursday that Akbar would
\nlikely win the party's presidential convention as many party
\nleaders considered him a hero.<\/p>\n
\"His political hand is getting stronger. He is now a feasible
\npresidential candidate,\" Denny, who chairs the Indonesian Survey
\nInstitute, told The Jakarta Post Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"They (Golkar leaders) think that Akbar has given his life to
\nprotect Golkar, and Akbar was able to keep the party united and
\nturn it into the second largest party,\" Denny said.<\/p>\n
Golkar, the political machine of former dictator Soeharto, won
\nalmost 25 percent of votes cast in the 1999 general election,
\nmaking it the second largest party after the ruling Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).<\/p>\n
J. Kristiadi of the Centre of Strategic and International
\nStudies (CSIS), meanwhile, said Akbar's acquittal would serve as
\nfresh ammunition for him to consolidate and win his party's
\npresidential convention.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar's convention is practically over and Akbar will become
\nits presidential candidate,\" Kristiadi was quoted by Antara as
\nsaying on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Golkar is currently organizing a political convention to
\nselect a presidential candidate for the July 5 election.<\/p>\n
Besides Akbar, former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen.
\n(ret) Wiranto, businessman Aburizal Bakrie, media mogul Surya
\nPaloh, Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, former
\nArmy's Strategic Reserves (Kostrad) commander Lt. Gen. (ret)
\nPrabowo Subianto, and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare
\nJusuf Kalla are all running in the convention.<\/p>\n
The country's will hold its first ever direct presidential
\nelection on July 5 and a possible runoff on Sept. 20.<\/p>\n
Boy B. Janis, deputy chairman PDI-P expressed doubt over
\nTandjung's increased chances of becoming president although he
\nhas been acquitted of corruption charges. The effect would not be
\nentirely favorable on the Golkar convention, he said, \"because
\nsince the beginning the convention was designed to cover up party
\nleaders who were in trouble.\"<\/p>\n
Hinting at the possibility of the elite within PDI-P courting
\nAkbar as President Megawati Soekarnoputri's running mate in the
\npresidential elections, Roy said because the presidential
\nelection would be direct, any attempt at a coalition would have
\nto involve the grassroots; \"We'd have to ask PDI-P supporters
\nwhether they would be willing to partner with Golkar.\"<\/p>\n
Separately, another political expert Mochtar Pabottingi,
\nwarned of increasing rallies, including student demonstrations,
\nfollowing Akbar's aquittal on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"There will be many student protests due to the court
\ndecision. It hurts people's sense of justice,\" Mochtar of the
\nIndonesian Institute of Sciences told the Post.<\/p>\n
According to Mochtar, since the very beginning, the people
\nhave distrusted the court -- from the lower level to the Supreme
\nCourt -- for not probing the alleged involvement of other Golkar
\nParty leaders in the graft case.<\/p>\n
He also said the verdict would not automatically facilitate
\nAkbar's presidential candidacy in the party's convention nor in
\nthe next general election.<\/p>\n
\"Many candidates who distrust Akbar would consider that the
\nconvention was engineered to favor the party chairman,\" he said.<\/p>\n
PDI-P legislator and research head Jacob Tobing said, however,
\nthat there could be a backlash against Golkar.<\/p>\n
He told Reuters that, \"whatever the decision of the Supreme
\nCourt, the people do not believe Tandjung\", although he said PDI-
\nP respected the court's ruling.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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