Soeharto's renomination gets mixed responses<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The minority Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nwelcomed yesterday President Soeharto's acceptance of his
\nnomination for another term by the ruling Golkar, while fellow
\nminority United Development Party cautiously deferred its
\ncomments.<\/p>\n
Fatimah Achmad, deputy chair of PDI, said Soeharto's clear
\nstance was needed in this time of economic volatility.<\/p>\n
"President Soeharto's readiness is needed in such an
\nunfavorable condition," said Fatimah, who is also Deputy House
\nSpeaker, as quoted by Antara. "At least now, the people and the
\ninternational society already know the presidential candidate."<\/p>\n
PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum separately said that
\nSoeharto's decision was in response to Golkar's nomination only.
\nThe President had yet to tell the other political parties his
\nstance, he pointed out.<\/p>\n
Soeharto's decision meant that Golkar had settled its internal
\nproblems, Ismail said.<\/p>\n
"PPP will declare its presidential and vice presidential
\ncandidates at the end of next month," he said.<\/p>\n
The five factions in the 1,000-strong People's Consultative
\nAssembly will elect a president, vice president and endorse the
\n1998\/2003 State Policy Guidelines in March. The two other
\nfactions in the assembly are the Armed Forces (ABRI) and the
\nRegional Representatives, but these two are considered
\ntraditional allies of Golkar and invariably support the dominant
\nfaction.<\/p>\n
"The Armed Forces headquarters has long considered
\nrenominating President Soeharto," ABRI chief of sociopolitical
\naffairs, Lt. Gen. Yunus Yosfiah, said after an official visit to
\nthe House of Representatives (DPR) yesterday.<\/p>\n
"ABRI considers that Pak Harto is still the country's best son
\nfor the presidency," he said.<\/p>\n
Golkar first declared it was renominating Soeharto during its
\nleadership meeting last October. At that time Soeharto demurred,
\nsuggesting Golkar recheck its stance with its members and
\nsupporters nationwide.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, three leaders of a coalition of Golkar, the Armed
\nForces and the bureaucracy -- represented by Golkar chairman
\nHarmoko, Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. and ABRI Chief
\nGen. Feisal Tanjung -- visited Soeharto to tell him their stance
\nremained unchanged.<\/p>\n
Soeharto accepted the nomination yesterday.<\/p>\n
"The majority of Indonesians still want Haj Muhammad Soeharto
\nto be president for the 1998\/2003 term," Harmoko told reporters
\nat the House of Representatives. Harmoko is House Speaker.<\/p>\n
Former vice president Sudharmono separately said that Soeharto
\nmust have accepted because he was now convinced that the majority
\nof Indonesians supported him.<\/p>\n
"He must have thought that his acceptance could stabilize the
\nIndonesian economy," he said.<\/p>\n
"Hopefully, the international community will positively
\nrespond to his decision, knowing that there is now political
\ncertainty in the country's state leadership," he said.<\/p>\n
Dissent<\/p>\n
Political observer Maswadi Rauf from the University of
\nIndonesia predicted that the other factions at the MPR would
\nfollow Golkar in its nomination of Soeharto.<\/p>\n
"Despite his age, Pak Harto is still the strongest figure for
\nthe presidency and has great support of the people," he said.<\/p>\n
He dismissed speculation that President Soeharto accepted only
\nafter he felt secure that the international community supported
\nhim in exchange for his acquiescence to an International Monetary
\nFund (IMF)-sponsored economic reform package for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"His (acceptance) is not from any green light from the
\ninternational community, in particular the United States," he
\nsaid, "But, Pak Harto has really won the people's support."<\/p>\n
A dissenting voice, however, came from the secretary-general
\nof the National Commission on Human Rights, Baharuddin Lopa, who
\nsaid that Golkar's nomination of Soeharto meant that it had
\nfailed to heed the aspiration of the majority of Indonesians.<\/p>\n
"There should first be a national dialog on the presidency and
\nthe vice presidency which could absorb aspirations from all
\nelements in society," he told reporters after addressing a
\ndiscussion on the impact of the economic crisis, held by the
\nIndonesian Catholic Students Movement (PMKRI) yesterday.<\/p>\n
He said it was now difficult to say that the People's
\nConsultative Assembly represented the people, while unofficial
\nvoices would never be recognized by the government.<\/p>\n
"Both official and unofficial representative forces should sit
\ntogether to form a common perception on the matter," he said.<\/p>\n
Vice president<\/p>\n
Regarding the question on the vice presidency, none of the
\nparty executives and observers interviewed yesterday concluded
\nthat Golkar had a specific name in mind when it conveyed a set of
\ncriteria for the post.<\/p>\n
Harmoko, Yogie and Feisal suggested 29 criteria for the vice
\npresidency, which includes mastery on science, technology and
\nindustry. This particular point has created speculation that
\nGolkar was referring to State Minister of Research and Technology
\nB.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
Lopa said the item on science and technology by no means
\nindicated certain names.<\/p>\n
"It is not yet definite that Habibie will be the only eligible
\nperson," he said, "Ultimately, the decision will rest on the
\nelected president."<\/p>\n
Deputy House Speaker from the Armed Forces Syarwan Hamid said
\nthe criteria could be met by either Habibie, State Minister of
\nNational Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita or
\nCoordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto.<\/p>\n
Maswadi said the criteria could also be met by incumbent Try
\nSutrisno, Harmoko, and Minister of Information R. Hartono.
\n(imn\/09)<\/p>",
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