Officials support Megawati, Amien for nomination<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two high-ranking officials responded positively
\nyesterday to recent calls for the nomination of government
\ncritics Megawati Soekarnoputri and Amien Rais as the next
\npresident and vice president.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja was quoted
\nby Antara as saying that the nomination was only \"symbolic\" in
\nnature, as it was meant to show that people could nominate or be
\nnominated. However, it also served as proof of an openness in
\nIndonesian politics and democratization, he added.<\/p>\n
Director General for Social and Political Affairs Maj. Gen.
\nAchdari responded positively to calls for the nomination of
\nMegawati and Amien by saying: \"By all means, as long as it is
\ndone in accordance with the existing mechanism.\"<\/p>\n
Megawati is the ousted chairman of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) and Amien is chairman of the 28-million-strong
\nMuhammadiyah Moslem organization.<\/p>\n
A group of prominent government critics, calling themselves
\nthe Group of Oct. 28, gathered earlier this week to urge the
\ngovernment to make urgent economic and political reforms.<\/p>\n
They said fundamental reforms were the only answer to the
\nmonetary crisis which has gripped the country since July last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The group also hailed and supported calls for Amien Rais and
\nMegawati to be nominated as presidential candidates. \"We happily
\nwelcome the readiness of Amien Rais and Megawati Soekarnoputri to
\nbe nominated by the people and by the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) as presidential (candidates) for the 1998\/2003
\nperiod,\" the group said in a statement.<\/p>\n
In an earlier gathering, Megawati declared her readiness to be
\nnominated president for the 1998\/2003 period, and called on
\nincumbent President Soeharto to reject renomination for his
\nseventh consecutive term. Support has been growing for her, and
\nfor Amien Rais.<\/p>\n
The latter had not said outright he wanted to become president
\nbut was challenged by some people to say whether he would be
\nwilling to be elected, given that he had often called for
\npresidential succession.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said: \"The call for nomination is a symbolic gesture,
\nthat is to prove that people can nominate or be nominated. But
\nwhether or not they can (become president or vice president), I
\ndon't think that's the intention.<\/p>\n
\"It shows there's progress in democratization here... You,
\ntoo, could be nominated,\" he told a reporter. \"It shows the
\npublic are mature enough to handle multiple candidates.\"<\/p>\n
Sarwono also responded positively to the rare meeting between
\nMegawati, Amien Rais and the Group of Oct. 28. \"It's a good
\nthing, and a breath of fresh air for public political education,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The group was formed last Oct. 28 in Jakarta and led by
\nSupeni, a senior politician and former leader of the now defunct
\nIndonesian Nationalist Party which was one of four organizations
\nmerged to form the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) in 1973.<\/p>\n
Achdari said he was confident the group would not pose any
\nthreat toward the planned general session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) from March 1 to March 11, where a new
\npresident and vice president will be elected and the state
\nguidelines will be adopted.<\/p>\n
\"The group is not a threat. So far, there are no threatening
\ngroups,\" he said yesterday. \"If they wish to hold a gathering,
\ndiscussion, voice their aspirations, they can do so, by all
\nmeans, as long as they do not violate any laws.\"<\/p>\n
\"So far, the government has not detected anything serious from
\ntheir presence, but the government will remain watchful about
\npossible problems,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"But if they seek to disrupt domestic political stability...
\nthe government will not take even the smallest risk,\" he said.
\n(swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/officials-support-megawati-amien-for-nomination-1447893297",
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