Golkar presidential candidates begin campaign<\/p>\n
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar<\/p>\n
The presidential race kicked off within the country's second
\nbiggest party, Golkar, on Friday, with five would-be candidates
\npresenting their visions and missions on the first day of a
\nthree-day meeting of Golkar-affiliated mass organizations in
\nMakassar, South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
The meeting, attended by representatives of the party's
\nregional offices, is being held to introduce presidential
\nhopefuls to the party, which served as the political vehicle for
\nformer dictator Soeharto over more than three decades.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will hold its first ever direct presidential
\nelection between June and August 2004, preceded by legislative
\nelections scheduled for April 5.<\/p>\n
Two of the would-be candidates -- Jusuf Kalla and Sultan
\nHamengkubuwono X, are longtime Golkar figures.<\/p>\n
The three others are noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid,
\nformer commander of the Army Strategic Reserves Command
\n(Kostrad), Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto, and Gen. (ret) Agum
\nGumelar, the incumbent transportation minister.<\/p>\n
Jusuf Kalla, who is also the current coordinating minister for
\npeople's welfare, told the meeting that he was ready to run for
\nthe presidency in 2004.<\/p>\n
He also said that he was optimistic he could meet Golkar's
\nrequirements.<\/p>\n
Although he did not mention the number of local branches that
\nbacked his bid, Kalla believed he could gain enough support.<\/p>\n
He also said that he did not consider Golkar chairman Akbar
\nTandjung as a rival.<\/p>\n
"If Pak Akbar is acquitted of all charges, he must be
\nprioritized (as the party's candidate) due to his position as
\nparty chairman," said Kalla, adding that Golkar would not propose
\na single candidate for the upcoming election.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish, meanwhile, said he would stay consistent to his
\ncommitment to using Golkar as a political vehicle leading to the
\npresidency in 2004 despite requests from other parties to be
\ntheir presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
"I have chosen to be nominated by Golkar so the other parties
\ncan no longer nominate me. They could support me, however," he
\ntold reporters.<\/p>\n
Nucholish, widely tipped as a strong rival to Akbar, said he
\nhad yet to appoint a vice presidential running mate. He explained
\nthat this would have to be someone who was willing to fight for
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish is known as a staunch supporter of democracy and
\nfor his reform credentials, and has no direct connection with the
\nNew Order regime.<\/p>\n
Agum, meanwhile, said he would concentrate on law enforcement
\nand nation-building if elected president. He also called on the
\npeople to eliminate corruption, collusion, nepotism, arrogance
\nand dishonesty.<\/p>\n
The sultan, on the other hand, said that Golkar must choose a
\nfigure who was committed to Golkar and the well-being of the
\npeople.<\/p>\n
"We must choose a figure who is committed to Golkar. Don't
\n(choose figures) who want to see Golkar disbanded," said the
\nsultan, apparently referring to Nurcholish who once called for
\nthe party's dissolution.<\/p>\n
Prabowo, on the other hand, said that he had not set himself
\nany special targets.<\/p>\n
"It is enough if I can take my place among the big five
\n(Golkar presidential candidates)," said Prabowo, a son-in law of
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
He said he had attended the gathering as he wanted to learn
\nand meet the people in a bid to ascertain their aspirations.<\/p>\n
Prabowo also said that the Soeharto family had nothing to do
\nwith his nomination.<\/p>\n
"I have no obligation nor responsibility to restore the image
\nof the Cendana family," said Prabowo, referring to his in-laws.<\/p>",
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