Soeharto the best candidate: Siswono<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo
\nhas said there is no better candidate for the national presidency
\nthan incumbent President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
"There is no stronger candidate," the minister was quoted by
\nAntara as saying over the weekend. "But this does not mean that
\nthere's no one else who can be president. People can nominate any
\nother person."<\/p>\n
Soeharto is now serving his sixth term and many observers
\nbelieve that he will run for re-election in 1998, after the 1997
\ngeneral election.<\/p>\n
Speaking after delivering a speech at a seminar sponsored by
\nKosgoro, an organization affiliated with the ruling political
\ngrouping, Golkar, Siswono said that the progress achieved under
\nSoeharto's leadership during the past three decades set him apart
\nas the obvious choice for president.<\/p>\n
"The achievement was made possible by, among other things, the
\nfact that this country has a capable and charismatic national
\nleader, who is consistent in upholding the Constitution," Siswono
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"This is not to hide the fact that Pak (Mr.) Harto is growing
\nolder, so that some parties have expressed doubts (about his
\nability) to hold the post in the future," Siswono said.<\/p>\n
However, "as long as the President is still healthy and
\nwilling to be re-elected, I don't think there's any problem," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Less than 10 days ago, the chairman of the Supreme Advisory
\nCouncil, Sudomo, said that, while Indonesia is not short of
\ncapable candidates for the presidency, none can match the
\nqualities found in Soeharto.<\/p>\n
The former close aide of the President said that Soeharto has
\nseveral qualities that are not found among any other potential
\nleaders. "Soeharto," Sudomo said, "has vision."<\/p>\n
Soeharto is also responsive to developments, he said, "because
\nthat is the way soldiers are trained -- to analyze and explore
\nbefore making a decision. And he has never been trapped by his
\nown decisions."<\/p>\n
Rather, Soeharto, "along with his aides, has made sure that
\nthe decisions have been put into practice," said the retired Navy
\nadmiral, who was once chief of the powerful Kopkamtib security
\nagency.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the open calls now being made by some
\norganizations for Soeharto to remain at the helm, Sudomo said
\ntheir demands are valid.<\/p>\n
"It's a healthy sign of democracy. Anyone can speak out. Their
\ncalls only become questionable if they have certain motives
\nbehind their moves," he said.<\/p>\n
Kosgoro chairman Soeprapto said the organization will
\ncertainly nominate Soeharto. He justified the decision on the
\nground that Soeharto had been a member of Kosgoro since 1957 and
\nwill open the organization's congress next month.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, Gakari, the youth wing of Golkar, was the
\nfirst organization to publicly state that it would ask Soeharto
\nto allow himself to be nominated for the presidency again in
\n1998.<\/p>\n
Gakari chairman Ais Anantama said his organization would
\nforward the proposal to Golkar.<\/p>\n
"Let us agree that the national leadership remain in the hands
\nof the New Order administration under the leadership of President
\nSoeharto," said Ais, who is the son of former chief justice Ali
\nSaid.<\/p>\n
Gakari's move was later supported by more than a dozen of
\nother organizations, most of which also have links with Golkar.<\/p>\n
Soeharto was re-elected in March 1993 for his sixth term by a
\nvote of acclamation from the 1,000-member People's Consultative
\nAssembly. He was the only candidate in the election, as he was in
\n1968, 1973, 1978, 1983 and 1988.<\/p>\n
So far, only one other name has cropped up as potential
\ncandidate for the presidency. Seven branches of the Christian-
\nnationalist alliance of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nrecently said chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri should run in the
\n1998 presidential poll.<\/p>\n
Megawati, the daughter of the late president Sukarno was
\nhailed by the PDI branches as a fighter for democracy who had
\ngrass-roots support.<\/p>\n
"She is simple, honest, non-materialistic and an uncomplicated
\nfigure," said the branches' leaders in a statement.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in his speech at Saturday's seminar, Siswono
\nidentified a number of "strategic issues" -- including social
\ngaps and the relations between the Armed Forces, the bureaucracy
\nand Golkar -- that should be understood by the public.<\/p>\n
"Social injustice is at the heart of all rebellions,
\nrevolutions and dissent," he said. (swe)<\/p>",
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