Soeharto noncommittal about his renomination<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto indicated yesterday his
\ncommitment to the constitution when he was requested to open an
\ninternational historian conference in August next year.<\/p>\n
The President chose to be noncommittal when senior historian
\nTaufik Abdullah asked him to open the forthcoming international
\nconference organized by the Association of Asian Historians here
\nnext year.<\/p>\n
"Pak Harto answered my request by saying that it would depend
\non the next president," Taufik said after meeting with President
\nSoeharto at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
The President will end his term in March next year. The
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly will meet then to elect a
\npresident and vice president and endorse the State Policy
\nGuidelines.<\/p>\n
It has been a foregone conclusion, however, that Soeharto will
\nbe reelected, especially now that the dominant Golkar has
\nannounced its intention to renominate him. Soeharto, however, has
\nnever directly answered those who openly asked for his
\nrenomination.<\/p>\n
The 76-year-old President has in the past referred to his old
\nage, and, more recently, said he refused to become a cult figure.
\nIf reelected, Soeharto will lead the country for the seventh
\nconsecutive term.<\/p>\n
In Golkar's ongoing leadership meeting, all chapter leaders
\nfrom across the country declared their support for Soeharto's
\nrenomination.<\/p>\n
"Golkar has no candidate other than President Soeharto," Fadel
\nMuhammad, organizing committee chairman of the Golkar leadership
\nmeeting, said in a press conference yesterday.<\/p>\n
Chairman Harmoko called on Golkar executives to make
\nrenomination a decree to be forwarded to the People's
\nConsultative Assembly in its March meeting.<\/p>\n
Fadel said yesterday none of the Golkar leaders mentioned vice
\npresidential candidates. The organization will only name its
\ncandidate in consultation with the elected president in March.<\/p>\n
Political observer of the Semarang-based Diponegoro
\nUniversity, Susilo Utomo, suggested yesterday that Golkar name
\nits vice presidential candidates when it issues its political
\nstatement Sunday.<\/p>\n
"It's public knowledge that Pak Harto will be reelected next
\nMarch. What people are curious about is Golkar's candidates for
\nvice presidency," Susilo said.<\/p>\n
He said Golkar should not feel uncomfortable nominating
\ncandidates now, given the Assembly would make the final decision.<\/p>\n
He also suggested that Golkar come up with more than one name.<\/p>\n
"There are several eligible names, including State Minister of
\nResearch and Technology B.J. Habibie, incumbent vice president
\nTry Sutrisno, State Minister of National Development Planning
\nGinandjar Kartasasmita, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung
\nand Minister of Information R. Hartono," he said.<\/p>\n
Democracy<\/p>\n
Another Diponegoro University political observer, Soehardjo
\nS.S., went a step further, suggesting that Golkar name more than
\none presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
"If Golkar respects democracy, it should have the courage to
\ndeclare other names besides Soeharto. Democracy requires
\nalternatives," he said in Semarang.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, political observer Amien Rais of Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity said he was surprised to hear that Golkar would
\nnominate Soeharto for the next presidential election.<\/p>\n
"I was as shocked as if I heard a thunderbolt," he said.<\/p>\n
He said there must be something wrong in the country's
\npolitical affairs, as seen by Golkar's renomination of Soeharto,
\ngiven that the President had just stated his refusal to be turned
\ninto a cult figure.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, the question of who would replace Harmoko rose
\nat Golkar's ongoing leadership meeting. The dominant group is
\nscheduled to hold its five-yearly national congress next year and
\nto elect new leadership.<\/p>\n
Fadel dismissed speculation that Harmoko would soon step down
\nand that deputy chief Siti Hardiyanti Indra Rukmana would replace
\nhim.<\/p>\n
"That's not true. We'll decide this at the national congress
\nnext year," Fadel said. (imn\/har\/23\/prb)<\/p>",
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