JP\/4\/4GOLKAR<\/p>\n
Two generals take different political courses<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Two retired Indonesian Military (TNI) generals took different
\npolitical courses on Wednesday, with one eying the presidency and
\nthe other quitting the race.<\/p>\n
Former TNI chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto, a controversial military
\nstrongman with a questioned human rights record, submitted his
\napplication to become the presidential candidate for the Golkar
\nparty, the country's second largest, on Wednesday, while current
\nMinister of Transportation Agum Gumelar, a four-star Army general
\n(ret), decided against running for the Golkar vacancy.<\/p>\n
Both had picked up registration forms from the committee
\norganizing the Golkar convention, claiming their supporters had
\nencouraged them to contest the election.<\/p>\n
Thursday is the deadline for all presidential aspirants from
\nGolkar to return their registration forms.<\/p>\n
At least 12 presidential hopefuls had submitted their bids by
\nWednesday. Aside from Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for People's
\nWelfare Jusuf Kalla and Yogjakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono
\nX had also returned the forms.<\/p>\n
Party chairman Akbar Tandjung, who was sentenced to three
\nyears in jail for corruption, is yet to submit his bid, while
\nanother strong candidate, Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid, has
\nbacked off, citing differences of principles and money politics.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said Wednesday that he had decided to join the race on
\nthe back of the failure of the current regime to live up to
\npeople's expectations.<\/p>\n
"Five years after the reforms started, elements of the nation
\nare still unable to ensure justice and safety, and improve
\npeople's welfare," said Wiranto.<\/p>\n
"The presidential post is a strategic position, because as
\npresident one will be able to help overcome those problems. In
\nthis light, I am preparing myself to be Indonesia's sixth
\npresident in 2004," said Wiranto without giving any hint as to
\nhow he would address the issues.<\/p>\n
Separately, Agum, who is also chairman of the Alumni of the
\nNational Resilience Institute (Lemhanas), said his daily routines
\nhad prevented him from pursuing his presidential ambition.<\/p>\n
Agum is also chairman of the Indonesian Soccer Association
\n(PSSI) and head of the National Sports Commission (KONI).<\/p>\n
Agum's withdrawal from the race came only hours after Wiranto
\nconfirmed his participation in the convention.<\/p>\n
The Golkar chairman and Wiranto, who still holds significant
\ninfluence in the military, are the two leading candidates for
\nGolkar's presidential nominees.<\/p>\n
Despite the fact that both Wiranto and Akbar have wide support
\nfrom Golkar's grass roots, the outcome of the presidential
\nconvention is still difficult to predict.<\/p>\n
Both Wiranto and Akbar have been dogged by two separate
\nproblems, which may spoil their chances of grabbing the
\ncandidacy.<\/p>\n
Wiranto has been accused of being responsible for the violence
\nand murders in East Timor following the ballot in 1999 that gave
\nindependence to the tiny territory.<\/p>\n
Akbar, on the other hand, has been sentenced to three years in
\njail for his role in stealing Rp 40 billion that had been
\nearmarked to feed Indonesia's poorest citizens. He is free
\npending appeal.<\/p>\n
Although the Presidential Election Law permits those with a
\nmaximum five-year sentence to run, the verdict is actually a
\npolitical hindrance for Akbar's presidential bid.<\/p>\n
Golkar has a reputation of being the political bandwagon of
\nformer president Soeharto's 32-year authoritarian and corrupt New
\nOrder regime.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp44golkar-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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