Limit presidential term after Soeharto: Siswono<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo
\nsaid yesterday that in the post-Soeharto era after 2003,
\nIndonesia should limit a president's tenure to 10 years.<\/p>\n
Siswono told a seminar on future leadership that Indonesia had
\nin the past 52 years seen only two presidents who both came to
\npower through extraordinary processes.<\/p>\n
However, now that everything had returned to normal, it would
\nbe enough for a future president to hold office for two
\nconsecutive terms, he said.<\/p>\n
Starting in 1945, late founding president Sukarno held office
\nuntil 1966. Soeharto was then appointed acting President in 1967
\nand later President in 1968. Siswono predicted that the People's
\nConsultative Assembly would re-elect Soeharto for another five-
\nyear term when it convenes next March.<\/p>\n
\"The late president Sukarno played an outstanding role in our
\nstruggle for independence and the building of the nation.
\nPresident Soeharto rescued the country from disintegration
\nfollowing a coup attempt by the communist party in 1965 and has
\nhelped increase the welfare of citizens ever since.<\/p>\n
\"However, in the future, we no longer expect to elect our
\npresidents in such extraordinary ways, but in normal ways as
\nsuggested by the Constitution. For the sake of development,
\nfuture presidents should only (be in office) for one or two
\n(five-year) terms,\" Siswono said.<\/p>\n
He said the suggested limitation of a president's term did not
\nnecessitate a change to the 1945 Constitution which merely says
\nthat a president is elected for a five-year term and can be
\nreelected. He instead suggested a public consensus.<\/p>\n
Siswono said that for most Indonesian people, both Sukarno and
\nSoeharto were more than just heads of state; the two were the
\ncountry's founding fathers.<\/p>\n
\"Their outstanding merits ... have won the hearts of the
\nIndonesian people. Therefore, everybody voluntarily accepted them
\nto lead the country for so long,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The seminar was held by the Institute for Management Education
\nand Development held in honor of former Armed Forces leader and
\nthe institute's founding father T.B. Simatupang. Minister of
\nTourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave opened the seminar.<\/p>\n
Also speaking at the seminar were chairman of Singapore
\nTelecoms Koh Boon Hwee; vice president of PT Astra International
\nB. Subianto; daughter of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
\nMohamad and president of the Malaysian AIDS Council Marina
\nMahathir; and Golkar legislator Nafsiah Mboi.<\/p>\n
House of Representatives member Sabam Sirait said limitation
\nof a president's tenure had actually sparked a debate in the 1973
\nsession of the People's Consultative Assembly.<\/p>\n
\"The Assembly, including Golkar representatives, had proposed
\nthe idea (to limit a president's term) after learning from past
\nexperiences that a president who took office for too long could
\ncause many problems,\" Sabam of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI) said.<\/p>\n
PDI campaigned to bring the issue back to the surface in the
\n1992 electoral campaign, with party chairman Soerjadi saying that
\na president's term in office should be restricted to only a
\nmaximum of 10 years. The party did not include the topic in its
\ncampaign agenda last April.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Institute for Management Education and
\nDevelopment Frans Seda agreed with Siswono, stating that the
\npresidential post for two five-year terms was enough.<\/p>\n
Seda, also a former minister of finance, said that presidents
\nwere allowed to take office for a long time because the 1945
\nConstitution says nothing about a limitation of a president's
\ntenure.<\/p>\n
In the seminar, Siswono said the ability to maintain political
\nstability served as strong legitimacy for a leader. He said,
\nhowever, that future national leaders should encourage justice if
\nthey wish to develop loyalty among their followers.<\/p>\n
He said future leaders should be open to criticism.<\/p>\n
\"Many of us prefer to criticize behind our leader's back. A
\nsociety which allows people to openly express opposition remains
\na distant ideal,\" Siswono said. (amd)<\/p>\n
Nominee -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/limit-presidential-term-after-soeharto-siswono-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }