'Soeharto still needed after 1998'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The youth wing of the ruling political grouping
\nGolkar has asked that President Soeharto allow himself to be
\nnominated for the presidency again in 1998.<\/p>\n
Ais Anantama Said, chair of the Generasi Muda Gabungan Karya
\nRakyat Indonesia, made the call yesterday while addressing a one-
\nday seminar on the sanctity of the state ideology Pancasila,
\nsaying the organization would soon forward the proposal to
\nGolkar.<\/p>\n
\"Let us ... agree that the national leadership remain in the
\nhands of the New Order administration under the leadership of
\nPresident Soeharto,\" said Ais, who is the son of former chief
\njustice Ali Said.<\/p>\n
The discussion, which was organized by Ais, was held to
\ncommemorate Pancasila Sanctity Day and was opened by Golkar
\nSecretary-General Ary Mardjono, representing chairman Harmoko.<\/p>\n
\"Mind you, this noble wish and proposal is not intended to
\ngain any (political) advantage,\" said Ais, who is also a
\nlegislator. He dismissed the suggestion that the organization's
\nproposal might create the impression that the members want to
\nmake Soeharto a \"president for life.\"<\/p>\n
\"His leadership is still needed,\" he said. \"There are
\nmechanisms...in the MPR five-yearly sessions.\"<\/p>\n
Eligible citizens will cast their votes in 1997. The national
\nleadership succession has been a burning issue for some time, but
\n73-year-old President Soeharto appears to have no contender at
\npresent.<\/p>\n
Soeharto was re-elected in March 1993 for his sixth term by a
\nvote of acclamation of the 1,000-member People's Consultative
\nAssembly. He was the sole candidate in the election, as he was in
\n1968, 1973, 1978, 1983 and 1988.<\/p>\n
When pressed over whether his organization did not see any
\nother potential leaders, Ais, who heads Golkar's department for
\narts and culture, said that \"the issue should be seen in the
\ncontext of Indonesia's position in the international arena\".<\/p>\n
\"As a (leading) figure, he is still needed to maintain the
\nposition of ASEAN...He's not only a statesman, he's not only a
\npolitician,\" he said. \"He's needed in order to maintain the
\nstability of ASEAN.\"<\/p>\n
Ais was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying that
\nSoeharto should be nominated for a seventh term because he is a
\nleader who is able to guide generations after him.<\/p>\n
In addition, \"in the coming century, under President
\nSoeharto's leadership, Indonesia's position in the international
\narena will be more strategic,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The political statement on the nomination for the presidential
\nelection which is still more than two years away was the first of
\nits kind.<\/p>\n
Inconsistent<\/p>\n
Political scientist Maswadi Rauf told The Jakarta Post that
\nAis' statement was \"inconsistent\" with the position of Golkar,
\noften stated by Harmoko, regarding the issue of national
\nleadership. During the numerous campaigns by various parties to
\nbring the nation to talk about the national leadership
\nsuccession, Harmoko has always wet-blanketed the notion.<\/p>\n
According to Harmoko, it is \"unethical\" to discuss succession
\nbecause only the People's Consultative Assembly has the authority
\nto elect the president and the vice president.<\/p>\n
\"There's nothing wrong with what Ais said,\" Maswadi said. \"I
\nbelieve that it's actually the natural thing to do. He feels that
\nway, and has expressed it in that statement.\"<\/p>\n
\"What's not right is the idea that people must not talk about
\n(the succession) now. People should be allowed to have
\ndiscussions about the issue any time,\" Maswadi said.<\/p>\n
Maswadi said that Ais' statement might snow-ball, and that,
\nbefore long, other organizations would follow suit, expressing
\nsupport for Soeharto.<\/p>\n
In addition, Ais would probably reap political benefits from
\nhis statement, Maswadi said. \"Now, people may start to see him
\nand his organization as the pioneer in nominating Soeharto
\nagain,\" Maswadi said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Harmoko told the seminar that the state ideology
\nPancasila should not be treated as mere rhetoric. Instead, it
\nshould be translated into a force enabling the nation to deal
\nwith rapid social and economic change.<\/p>\n
In a speech delivered by Ary, Harmoko said the discussion on
\nthe sanctity of Pancasila is still relevant, given that the
\nnation is facing various challenges, including clashes of values.<\/p>\n
The key speakers at the seminar were former minister of social
\nwelfare Alamsyah Ratuprawiranegara, businessman Fahmi Idris and
\nMahadi Sinambela of Golkar's youth wing. (swe)<\/p>",
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