Try tipped for PKP presidential candidate: Edi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Justice and Unity Party (PKP) may nominate
\nformer vice president Try Sutrisno as presidential candidate for
\nthe 1999\/2004 period, chairman of the party, Edi Sudradjat, said
\non Saturday.<\/p>\n
Edi was quick to add, however, that PKP had yet to reach an
\nagreement on the issue, saying that the selection process of
\ncandidates was still underway.<\/p>\n
"We have heard some aspirations to nominate a figure who is
\nacceptable to all groups in the country," Edi said on the
\nsidelines of a PKP national congress here. He was answering a
\nquestion of whether PKP would name 63-year-old Try as its
\npresidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Try, who was vice president to Soeharto from 1993 to 1998,
\nchairs the Armed Forces Veterans Association (PEPABRI) and is a
\nsupporter of PKP. Edi, a former minister of defense and security
\nand a colleague of Try during their military career, is a member
\nof PEPABRI.<\/p>\n
A group of veterans failed in their attempt to suggest the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) factions renominate Try as
\nvice president last year. Instead, the MPR unanimously named B.J.
\nHabibie the sole candidate for the vice presidency. Habibie then
\ntook over from Soeharto, who resigned following relentless
\nstudent rallies in May last year.<\/p>\n
Edi said a presidential candidate would need support from
\nother parties, not to mention the MPR which convenes in November
\nto elect a president and a vice president.<\/p>\n
"We expect to bring our own candidate to the MPR General
\nSession, but if we fail to name him or her, we can just support
\nother parties' candidates," Edi was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
The PKP congress discussed, among other things, the party's
\npreparations for the elections, scheduled for June 7.<\/p>\n
While most provincial offices expressed guarded optimism that
\nPKP would finish among the top five in their respective regions,
\nsome reported violations committed by the bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
"A subdistrict chief in Bandung told people who received funds
\nunder the social safety net program that the money came from
\nGolkar," said West Java chief of PKP, Tjetje Padmadinata, himself
\na former Golkar legislator.<\/p>\n
His North Sumatra counterpart, Ansyah Nasution, complained
\nabout a number of Cabinet ministers who allegedly traveled to the
\nprovince but used their trip to campaign for a particular party.
\nMost Cabinet ministers are Golkar members.<\/p>\n
"They have misused state funds in the interest of their own
\nparty," Ansyah said.<\/p>\n
A government regulation issued recently bans bureaucrats from
\nholding executive posts in any political party.<\/p>\n
U.S. trip<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN),
\nAmien Rais, left for the United States on Saturday afternoon. He
\nis scheduled to talk with U.S. Vice President Al Gore about
\npresent conditions in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"I will suggest to Al Gore that the U.S. administration exert
\nmoral pressure on the Indonesian government to put an end to
\nseveral riots that have claimed many lives and caused material
\nlosses," Rais said after inaugurating four PAN subbranches in
\nBekasi, West Java, earlier in the day.<\/p>\n
He denied that he requested the U.S. intervene in Indonesia's
\ninternal affairs.<\/p>\n
"It merely aims at preventing Indonesia from international
\nisolation," he said. He will be in the U.S. until Thursday.<\/p>\n
He said he would also attend a discussion organized by foreign
\ndiplomats and meet with senators, businesspeople and students
\nduring his American trip.<\/p>\n
When asked about the government announcement that 48 parties
\nwere eligible to contest the polls, Amien said he feared it would
\ntrigger conflict among various party supporters.<\/p>\n
But Amien insisted that the polls must go on, unless more
\nviolent conflicts broke out.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, East Java Governor Imam Utomo announced he would
\nreject an invitation to attend any party function other than
\nparty anniversary celebrations.<\/p>\n
"I will only attend a party anniversary celebration as a mere
\nguest, without having to address the attendees," Imam said as
\nquoted by Antara on Saturday. (amd)<\/p>",
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