Golkar likely to support Amien's alliance<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Amien Rais reiterated on Wednesday his support
\nof Abdurrahman Wahid as the presidential candidate of the
\nalliance of Muslim-based parties, the so-called \"axis force\",
\nwhich looked set to win the support of the ruling Golkar Party as
\nwell.<\/p>\n
In a discussion on the new political alliance, Amien insisted
\nAbdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, was superior from other
\ncandidates as he was accepted by practically all the elements in
\nsociety.<\/p>\n
Also in the seminar, Golkar executive Slamet Effendi Yusuf
\nsaid his party was amenable to cooperate with the axis force,
\nincluding during the presidential election in November, as long
\nas both parties would benefit. The alliance was initiated by
\nAmien and consisted so far of eight Muslim-based parties, which
\ntogether may command an estimated 115 seats at the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur can be accepted by Protestants, Catholics, Hindus and
\nChinese minorities, and especially the Muslims,\" Amien said in
\npraise of a man who often did not agree with him in the past.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur also enjoys good relations with the military and
\nother presidential candidates like Megawati and B.J. Habibie.\"<\/p>\n
Amien conceded that not all members of the axis force shared
\nthe enthusiasm with which he was supporting Abdurrahman, but he
\ndeclared the group had agreed not to support Habibie.<\/p>\n
\"We would welcome Golkar and Megawati if they were willing to
\njoin the axis force,\" Amien Rais told Antara.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Slamet said Golkar would not only agree to
\ncooperate with Amien's group during the upcoming presidential
\nelection in November, but also during the drawing up of the Broad
\nGuidelines of State Policies and discussions on sensitive issues,
\nsuch as the amendment of the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
Slamet said that Golkar was also ready to talk with leading
\npresidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri, whose Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) won the highest
\nvote in the June 7 poll.<\/p>\n
Golkar had nominated Habibie as its sole presidential
\ncandidate. Slamet said on Wednesday he likened Habibie to a
\nbridegroom and Golkar to the wali (the guardian or parents of the
\nbride). \"Whether or not the marriage is legal will depend on the
\nwali,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Golkar chairman Akbar Tanjung met recently with a string of
\nother party leaders, including Amien who chairs the National
\nMandate Party (PAN), Yusril Ihza Mahendra of the Crescent Star
\nParty, Abdurrahman himself, who is the founder of the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) and chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and
\nHamzah Haz, the chairman of the United Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Semarang, Achmad, the chairman of the Nahdlatul
\nUlama branch in Central Java, praised Abdurrahman's willingness
\nto be named the axis force's presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
\"I know that Abdurrahman is a very wise and kind man. Whoever
\nwins, whether it is Habibie or Megawati, he won't be upset... he
\nwill be serving only as a backup in the process,\" Achmad claimed.<\/p>\n
Separately, chairman of the East Java chapter of Nahdlatul
\nUlama, Hasyim Muzadi, expressed suspicions about the real intent
\nof the axis force since many of its members were still supporting
\nHabibie.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, do not easily believe the movement to support
\nAbdurrahman. We, the NU Ulemas, are very well aware of this
\nmatter.<\/p>\n
\"Has PPP really cut off its political support toward Habibie?
\nAnd what about the small Islamic-based parties... are they still
\ngripped by Habibie's influence?\" Hasyim told The Jakarta Post by
\nphone.<\/p>\n
Until the present, he added, Abdurrahman had always let others
\nbe nominated. \"He insists the biggest poll winner should name the
\npresident,\" Hasyim said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, about 30 students in support of Megawati protested
\nagainst the axis force on Tuesday night in front of the PDI
\nPerjuangan office in Semarang. They rejected Habibie's
\nnomination.<\/p>\n
Separately in the Central Java city of Purwokerto, political
\nobserver Nana Sutikna of Jendral Soedirman University praised
\nAbdurrahman's willingness as the presidential candidate of the
\naxis force as it would help ease tension that resulted from the
\nstiff competition between Megawati and Habibie.<\/p>\n
\"Abdurrahman's best advantage is that he has a large number of
\nsupporters and a small number of opponents,\" he said.
\n(06\/45\/edt\/har\/nur)<\/p>",
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