More students reject Soeharto's renomination<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A delegation of students delivered a petition to
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly yesterday, suggesting the body
\nnot renominate President Soeharto to another five-year term.<\/p>\n
The 20 students, representing 200 others on behalf of the
\nCommunication Forum of Jakarta Youths and Students, told the
\nchief of the United Development Party (PPP) faction in the
\nAssembly, Jusuf Syakir, that renominating Soeharto would
\ndiscourage others with the potential to lead the country.<\/p>\n
\"For no less than 30 years Pak Soeharto has been forced to
\nlead the nation because people didn't have the guts to (find new
\nleaders),\" said Edwin Partogi who led the delegation.<\/p>\n
\"The absence of (succession of national leadership) reveals
\nthe nation's heavy dependence on President Soeharto. It's as if
\nwe cannot do anything right without him,\" he added.<\/p>\n
It was the second group of students to reject Soeharto's
\nrenomination after a petition filed by 15 representatives of the
\nAssociation of Indonesian Law Students Council last week.<\/p>\n
Edwin said yesterday he was afraid the lack of courage would
\ncause people to turn Soeharto into a cult figure.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, whose reelection is almost certain due to dominant
\nfaction Golkar's full support, has rejected the idea of being
\nturned into a cult figure.<\/p>\n
He caught people by surprise when he addressed Golkar's 33rd
\nanniversary celebration on Oct. 19 with a request to the dominant
\nparty to reconsider its support for his renomination, saying that
\nhe did not want to hamper leadership succession.<\/p>\n
Edwin praised Soeharto's leadership that propelled the
\ndevelopment program to success, but regretted the lack of room
\nfor leadership succession.<\/p>\n
Various organizations have thrown their weight behind
\nSoeharto's reelection long before Golkar's announcement. If
\nelected, Soeharto will serve his seventh term.<\/p>\n
The Assembly, in which Golkar and its traditional allies the
\nArmed Forces and the regional representatives factions occupy 850
\nout of 1,000 seats, will convene next March to elect a president
\nand vice president for the 1998\/2003 period.<\/p>\n
Irfan Gani, who represented Islamic students of Bandung in
\nWest Java, said Soeharto was too old to bear the heavy burdens of
\nleading the nation. He also said that the President should retire
\nand enjoy his old age.<\/p>\n
\"It's a sin if we let him (Soeharto) lead the country
\n(again) ...we'd better place him in a respected place for a
\nperson whose time has come to enjoy his retirement,\" Irfan said.<\/p>\n
He said the 30-year development program under Soeharto had
\nbrought about admirable economic growth and political stability.<\/p>\n
However, the students suggested succession of national
\nleadership, saying that it would boost democratization in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Responding to the students' motion, Jusuf Syakir said he would
\nforward the petition to the Assembly.<\/p>\n
Democracy<\/p>\n
The Assembly failed yesterday to agree on a draft of Pancasila
\ndemocracy sponsored by the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and
\nanother draft of amendment on election rules jointly supported by
\nPDI and PPP.<\/p>\n
The two minority factions insisted that the Assembly decree on
\ngeneral elections needs to be reviewed, or there would not be any
\nfair polls in the future.<\/p>\n
They demanded political parties contesting the elections play
\na bigger role in the planning, implementation and supervision of
\nthe polls.<\/p>\n
Wiranto, who chairs the session, said the Assembly ad hoc
\ncommittee in charge of nonstate policy guidelines adjourned the
\nsession pending an internal consultative meeting by leaders of
\nthe two factions.<\/p>\n
The country's political institutions traditionally avoid
\nvoting in their decision-making processes, although the 1945
\nConstitution allows such a procedure to take place. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-students-reject-soehartos-renomination-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}