Soeharto 'not likely to refuse renomination'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Politicians and observers said that despite
\nexpressing humility toward Golkar's support for presidential
\nrenomination, it is unlikely that Soeharto will refuse the
\ncandidacy.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council Sudomo and his deputy
\nSuhardiman both maintained yesterday that Soeharto's remarks did
\nnot indicate any sort of rejection toward Golkar's desire to
\nrenominate him.<\/p>\n
"It was not a signal of his rejection of Golkar's request. He
\nonly wanted Golkar and the people to remain constitutional in
\ndecision making," Sudomo said.<\/p>\n
Suhardiman concurred saying that when the time comes, Soeharto
\nwould accept the renomination.<\/p>\n
"In my opinion, Soeharto will still accept the request if the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) asks him again," Suhardiman
\nsaid adding that the statement showed Soeharto's wisdom as a
\nstatesman.<\/p>\n
They claimed that Soeharto's statement merely exemplified his
\ndemocratic nature.<\/p>\n
Addressing a reception celebrating the 33rd anniversary of
\nGolkar Sunday, Soeharto urged the dominant faction to find out
\nwhether the people really supported his renomination for the
\n1998\/2003 presidential term.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said he would willingly step aside if the people
\nchoose another candidate.<\/p>\n
Members of the 1,000-strong People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) will convene next March to elect a president and vice
\npresident and endorse the Broad Guidelines of the 1998\/2003 State
\nPolicies.<\/p>\n
If reelected, Soeharto will serve his seventh presidential
\nterm.<\/p>\n
Suhardiman argued that Soeharto's willingness to accept
\npresidential renomination was already evident when he asked
\nlegislative candidates in August to reintroduce an MPR decree
\nwhich would grant the president authority to take preemptive
\nsecurity measures against subversive activities.<\/p>\n
Sudomo noted that Soeharto must have realized that some people
\nwould disagree with his renomination and so he wanted to be sure
\nof the people's approval for such a supreme state position.<\/p>\n
"It shows that Pak Harto is simple and democratic," Sudomo,
\nwhose council reports to the president on state policies, told
\nreporters after being named a Golkar senior member in a ceremony
\nat the organization's secretariat in Slipi, West Jakarta,
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Golkar<\/p>\n
Golkar chief Harmoko stressed yesterday that Soeharto made no
\nmention of his unwillingness to be renominated.<\/p>\n
"I did not hear a single word from the President indicating
\nthat he rejected Golkar's decision," said Harmoko who is also
\nspeaker of the MPR and the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Harmoko formally announced at Sunday's ceremony that Golkar
\nwould renominate Soeharto in the presidential election.<\/p>\n
Harmoko's opinion was echoed by his deputy, Abdul Gafur.<\/p>\n
Both said the Golkar central board would not withdraw its
\nproposal but continue to forward the decision to the MPR general
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
Deputy House Speaker of the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction, Lt.
\nGen. Syarwan Hamid, resonated the positive responses toward
\nSoeharto's statement.<\/p>\n
"It shows that he is humble. For ABRI there will be no problem
\nwith his renomination, it is only a matter of time and formality.<\/p>\n
"We can say this is political education from Pak Harto. It
\ncovers many aspects, including morals. Not many people would talk
\nopenly like him," he said.<\/p>\n
Susilo Utomo of the Semarang-based Diponegoro University in
\nCentral Java said Soeharto would not encounter any reelection
\ndifficulties.<\/p>\n
"Soeharto is still uncontested for presidency. He has achieved
\nmuch in politics, economics and social affairs, which the world
\nalso recognizes," he said.<\/p>\n
But Susilo urged Golkar and other politicians to carefully
\ntake note of the president's statement and comprehend his overall
\nintent.<\/p>\n
"The President wants a regeneration in state leadership. And
\nit will be his prerogative whether to accept or reject the
\nproposal," he said.<\/p>\n
Ichlasul Amal of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University said
\nSoeharto's statement indicated that Golkar had misunderstood the
\nPresident's intentions.<\/p>\n
"Golkar failed to interpret Soeharto's statement that he
\nwanted liberalization in the presidential election," he said.
\n"But Golkar could not read these signs."<\/p>\n
Fellow Gadjah Mada University political scientist, Riswandha
\nImawan, said Soeharto's statement showed his desire to make the
\nnation more mature.<\/p>\n
"Pak Harto's statement was a reminder that MPR's task is to
\nselect, not merely appoint a president," he said. (imn\/har\/23)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-not-likely-to-refuse-renomination-1447893297",
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