Prepare the nation for succession: Observers<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Political observers are making a fresh call for
\nmore public discourse on succession in order to better prepare
\nthe nation for the time when the transfer of national leadership
\noccurs.<\/p>\n
Soehardjo, an expert on constitutional law at Diponegoro
\nUniversity, said here yesterday that the public must be
\nconditioned to talk about such a delicate subject. \"Otherwise,
\nthe issue may prove to become a time bomb,\" he said without
\nelaborating.<\/p>\n
Amien Rais, a political scientist at the Yogyakarta-based
\nGadjah Mada University, agreed. \"The sooner we have open
\ndiscussion about succession, the better,\" he said. \"We shouldn't
\nleave discussions on such an important matter till the last
\nminute.\"<\/p>\n
Soehardjo said that President Soeharto has recently sent
\nsignals on the need to prepare the nation for a succession.<\/p>\n
\"We should respect his stance in this matter. How do we do
\nthat? By making the best preparations for an eventual succession
\nand by preparing candidates,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Succession (of leadership) is an ordinary thing and should be
\nplanned well,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We have only one interest in the matter, and that's to ensure
\nthat succession proceeds smoothly, satisfies everybody, and that
\nno unnecessary upheavals take place,\" Amien said.<\/p>\n
In response to someone's request that he run for election in
\n1998, President Soeharto said last week that the most important
\nthing for him is to complete his term until 1998.<\/p>\n
\"What happens after is up to the People's Consultative
\nAssembly,\" he has said. \"But you should know that I'll be 77
\nthen, and that is old.\"<\/p>\n
Gen. (ret) Soemitro, a former chief of the defunct internal
\nsecurity agency, interpreted Soeharto's statement as a hint that
\nhe would not be willing to be renominated for a new term.<\/p>\n
\"His statement implied that he would like to give a younger
\nperson the opportunity to lead this country,\" Soemitro said. He
\nadded, however, that the President is not always predictable, and
\nrecalled the 1977 general election when Soeharto hinted that he
\nwas willing to step down.<\/p>\n
Despite academic discussions on whether Soeharto would step
\ndown, overwhelming support for his reelection continues to pour
\nin. Only last week, for instance, over 10,000 Christians in Bali
\nand a Moslem organization affiliated with the ruling Golkar
\norganization proclaimed support for Soeharto's reelection.<\/p>\n
The discourse on succession itself rises and ebbs, but has
\ntaken on greater openness over time. Amien Rais was the first
\nscholar to bring up the issue of leadership succession in
\nDecember 1993, only months after the nation reelected Soeharto to
\nhis sixth consecutive term.<\/p>\n
\"There is no other option. Presidential succession must occur
\nin 1998,\" Amien said then.<\/p>\n
Soehardjo said that Soeharto's statement last week was not the
\nfirst; the President has given the same hint several times.
\n\"Political organizations should respond to these signals,\" he
\nsaid. (swe\/har)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prepare-the-nation-for-succession-observers-1447893297",
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