Presidential election rules 'need changing'<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Changes in the presidential election rules
\nare needed to accommodate extra-parliamentary nomination, a
\npolitical expert said here yesterday.<\/p>\n
Ichlasul Amal of Gadjah Mada University said the present rules
\ndisregarded the fact that people may want different nominees from
\nthose supported by factions in the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR).<\/p>\n
\"A new tradition, which allows people to campaign for their
\nown candidates, should be initiated. Factions should no longer be
\nthe only party (authorized) to make a decision, judging by the
\nlatest situation,\" Ichlasul said.<\/p>\n
He was commenting on the presidential nomination of
\nMuhammadiyah Moslem organization leader Amien Rais by various
\ngroups. Amien, also a lecturer at the university, is collecting
\nsignatures of one million supporters to convince the Assembly to
\nnominate him.<\/p>\n
The 1,000-strong Assembly will elect a president and vice
\npresident in March. A 1973 decree set up by the Assembly gives
\neach of its five factions the authority to nominate a
\npresidential candidate.<\/p>\n
All but one faction have renominated incumbent President
\nSoeharto for another five-year term.<\/p>\n
Ichlasul said the political organizations contesting the
\ngeneral election should have unveiled their respective
\npresidential and vice presidential candidates during the election
\nrallies.<\/p>\n
\"The nomination of national leaders has been decided behind
\nclosed doors to make it difficult for people to judge the
\ncandidates,\" said Ichlasul.<\/p>\n
Another observer, Cornelis Lay, said that Amien's bid to gain
\nmassive public support represented the mounting demand for
\npeople's participation in the political decision making process.<\/p>\n
However, he said he was afraid the move would trigger a
\nretaliation from the government and would only split the people
\ninto two sides.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, non-governmental organization Pijar Foundation
\nproposed yesterday a cabinet lineup which they claimed would lead
\nthe country to a better future.<\/p>\n
In a rally staged at the House of Representatives, 100
\nactivists of the foundation nominated deposed chairperson of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri the
\nrepublic's new president and Amien the vice president.<\/p>\n
It was the latest demonstration demanding leadership
\nsuccession after a series of rallies last week, with people
\ncalling for a new president as the key to overcoming the present
\neconomic crisis.<\/p>\n
\"We urge legislators not to reelect President Soeharto. We
\ninsist that you nominate and choose Megawati Soekarnoputri as the
\nnew president and Amien Rais the vice president,\" said Pijar in a
\nstatement read by executive chairman B.Y. Widyankristyoko.<\/p>\n
The group called the Megawati-led administration the
\ntransitional government which will be in power from 1998 to 2000.<\/p>\n
To help the two national leaders, Pijar named 28 figures
\nranging from intellectuals to soothsayers for cabinet seats and
\nother top positions in or outside the government.<\/p>\n
Included in the cabinet were jailed government critic Sri
\nBintang Pamungkas as minister of trade and industry, jailed
\nunionist Muhtar Pakpahan as minister of labor affairs, political
\nscientist Juwono Sudarsono as minister of defense, mass
\ncommunications expert Jalaluddin Rakhmat as minister of
\ninformation, businessman Aburizal Bakrie as minister of
\ninvestment and economic expert Sjahrir as minister of finance.<\/p>\n
Among the noted figures nominated for other posts were
\nchairman of the 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem
\norganization Abdurrahman Wahid as Speaker of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly, and Surakarta, Central Java chief of the
\nUnited Development Party Moedrick Sangidoe for House Speaker.<\/p>\n
The activists also named former judge Adi Andojo Soetjipto
\nfor Chief Justice, incumbent Vice President Try Sutrisno for
\nchairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, soothsayer Permadi for
\nAttorney General and banking expert Laksamana Sukardi for Central
\nBank governor. (23\/amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/presidential-election-rules-need-changing-1447893297",
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