Nurcholish to run for presidency<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid announced on Monday his
\nintention to run for presidency in 2004, offering a platform
\nwhich is aimed at rebuilding the nation through the principles of
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
"Insya Allah (God willing), I'm ready to be one of the
\npresidential candidates," Nurcholish said at a press conference.<\/p>\n
Known as a low-profile figure, Nurcholish is the first
\nnonpartisan to announce his presidential bid.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish, better known as Cak Nur, said democracy in the
\ncountry had improved much compared to 1999, when the nation was
\nlearning about true democracy.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is to hold a landmark direct presidential election
\nin 2004 in its effort to build a more legitimate government.
\nHowever, public participation looks to remain minimal until the
\nballoting as presidential candidates will be determined by the
\npolitical parties.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish said winning or losing did not matter to him as his
\nmain goal was to sell his 10-point platform to the public.<\/p>\n
"We have reached a state of 'to be, or not to be'. We must ask
\nall parties to rebuild the country which is now being threatened
\nby disintegration," he said.<\/p>\n
Good governance at every level of each administration and
\ninstitution will top his agenda of national rebuilding,
\nNurcholish asserted.<\/p>\n
"We know that every position in the country can be bought. We
\nmust stop such a practice, once and for all," he said.<\/p>\n
His next priority was consistent law enforcement, followed by
\nnational reconciliation.<\/p>\n
"We must learn from the past and vow not to repeat past
\nmistakes. We need to see our future in a spirit of peace, and
\nunite all elements of the nation. We must draw a firm line to
\nforgive the past, but to not forget it," he said.<\/p>\n
He proposed economic reform through production activities that
\ninvolved as many poor people as possible.<\/p>\n
Civilians, particularly the press and the academic community,
\nwould be entitled to freedom, while the clear-cut division of
\nlabor between the executive, legislature and judicial powers must
\nbe complied with, he said.<\/p>\n
"It's part of the effort to develop and strengthen democratic
\ninstitutions," he said.<\/p>\n
He noted that national defense and security should be
\ndeveloped by rebuilding the dignity of military and police
\nofficers within the framework of democracy.<\/p>\n
"We have seen that the military and the police ignore their
\nnational duty of defending and securing the nation," he said.<\/p>\n
He maintained that national unity could be preserved through a
\ncultural approach and the recognition of pluralism and regional
\nautonomy, instead of the use of military force.<\/p>\n
The last three main goals of his platform are to expand the
\ncoverage of national education and raise its quality, to realize
\nsocial justice and to take an initiative in building world peace.<\/p>\n
The Golkar Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB) are
\namong those political parties that have expressed their interest
\nin nominating Nurcholish as their presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
He admitted to having formed a campaign team which includes "a
\nnumber of idealistic youths".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nurcholish-to-run-for-presidency-1447893297",
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