Emil has no plan to establish political force<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Despite growing political stature accorded him
\nby thousands who support his bid for the vice presidency, senior
\neconomist Emil Salim says he has no intention to build a
\npolitical force.<\/p>\n
"I am not supported by money, much less arms. I do not have
\nanything but my conscience, and the support of intellectuals and
\nactivists of non-governmental organizations," said the former
\ncabinet minister and cofounder of the Association of Indonesian
\nMoslem Intellectuals (ICMI).<\/p>\n
"I do not have any intention to build a political force," he
\ntold hundreds of local students and scholars attending a
\ndiscussion titled "The Economic Crisis and the New Paradigm for
\nIndonesian Development" at Surabaya University here Saturday.<\/p>\n
He suggested that economic reform be carried out based on
\ntransparency, justice, populism, democratization and conscience.<\/p>\n
Regarding the growing number of people who want him for vice
\npresident, he insisted he would not be persuaded into campaigning
\nfor political reform through unconstitutional means. "It is not
\nbecause I am afraid or a coward, but I do not like violence,
\nunconstitutional ways or irresponsibility," he said.<\/p>\n
"I am not out just to seek a (vice presidential) seat or some
\nsort of bargaining power. I am being nominated by my friends," he
\nsaid. "Even if I lose, at the very least I would have fought in
\nthe battle of ideas."<\/p>\n
Emil, whose supporters describe him as an honest and
\nrespectable man, said he was only following his conscience and
\naiming at providing people with political education. He called on
\nintellectuals and activists to join those already standing up for
\nreform and against those who want to maintain the status quo.<\/p>\n
He said he believed his stance was not in violation of the
\nconstitution.<\/p>\n
During the discussion Saturday, some 200 students and dozens
\nof scholars expressed support for Emil's bid for the vice
\npresidency. Among the intellectuals were Surabaya University's
\nrector Anton Priyatno, noted lawyer Trimoelja D. Soerjadi, and
\nlecturers of state-run Airlangga University's School of Social
\nand Political Sciences and state-run Surabaya Institute of
\nTechnology.<\/p>\n
The support of intellectuals in the East Java capital adds to
\nthe support already voiced by activists from various non-
\ngovernmental organizations. They include Nelly Adam Malik and R.
\nKarlina Wirahadikusumah -- the widow of late vice president Adam
\nMalik and the wife of former vice president Umar Wirahadikusumah
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
The doyen of Indonesian economists, Soemitro Djojohadikusumo,
\nhas also voiced support for Emil.<\/p>\n
Separately, political observer Rudini said it was Emil's right
\nto run for the vice presidency.<\/p>\n
"And yet he should... withdraw if later he is not nominated
\nby any of the five factions in the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) in its General Session next month," said Rudini, who is a
\nformer minister of home affairs.<\/p>\n
Golkar, the Armed Forces, the regional representatives, the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) factions have all nominated State Minister of
\nResearch and Technology B.J. Habibie as running mate to incumbent
\nPresident Soeharto for the 1998\/2003 term of office.<\/p>\n
The Assembly will elect a vice president after consulting the
\nnewly elected president during the General Session.<\/p>\n
Some faction leaders have said Emil does not stand a chance.<\/p>\n
NU<\/p>\n
The 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization
\nannounced Friday that it would not throw its support behind
\nanyone in the quest for state leadership.<\/p>\n
"NU members should not join those who have expressed support
\nfor certain presidential and vice presidential candidates," said
\nthe organization in a statement.<\/p>\n
"Let us leave the decision to the mechanism in the MPR," it
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The announcement was drafted and issued after a four-hour
\nplenary meeting of NU's Tanfidziyah (executive body) Friday
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
The meeting was cochaired by chairman of NU's Syuriyah
\n(lawmaking body) Ilyas Rukhiat and NU's deputy chairman Hafidz
\nUsman, in the absence of chairman Abdurrahman Wahid who is
\nrecuperating from brain surgery performed on Jan. 20.
\n(nur\/imn\/swe)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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