Who wants to be next president, Golkar asks<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Golkar, the political vehicle of former dictator Soeharto, has
\nembarked on a national campaign aimed at netting a presidential
\ncandidate to be fielded by the party in the 2004 election.<\/p>\n
However, doubts have been mounting over Golkar's sincerity in
\nholding the exercise as it has been conceived at a time when
\nparty chairman Akbar Tandjung is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling
\non his appeal against a three-year jail sentence for corruption.<\/p>\n
Should the Supreme Court uphold the verdict, Akbar will be
\nsent to jail immediately.<\/p>\n
Golkar deputy secretary-general Rully Chairul Azwar said all
\ncitizens were invited to submit the names of individuals
\nconsidered to have the necessary abilities to bring the country
\nout of its prolonged economic crisis.<\/p>\n
\"We are giving a chance to all citizens to nominate, or be
\nnominated as, a presidential candidate through this convention,\"
\nRully said.<\/p>\n
Golkar, which came second in the 1999 general election, is
\nencouraging qualified figures to nominate themselves or be
\nnominated by mass organizations as presidential candidates during
\nthe party's first ever convention, Rully said.<\/p>\n
The registration period will run from July 11 through July 30,
\n2003.<\/p>\n
Individuals wishing to run as Golkar's candidate in the 2004
\npoll, when the country is expected to hold its first ever direct
\npresidential election, may nominate themselves by producing
\ndocuments proving that they are supported by at least 500 people
\nin five provinces.<\/p>\n
The aspirants may also use Golkar-affiliated mass
\norganizations to nominate and register themselves directly with
\nthe party's registration team. The candidates can also be
\nnominated through regional chapters of Golkar.<\/p>\n
Those wishing to join the race must never have participated in
\na secessionist movement, be committed to maintaining the
\ncountry's unity, be ready to help Golkar win the 2004 election,
\naccept Golkar's political platform, and not be nominated by
\nanother political party.<\/p>\n
The convention is expected to produce five presidential
\ncandidates, one of whom will be selected as the party's sole
\ncandidate next year.<\/p>\n
\"If the people think they have the best candidate, please use
\nthe mass organizations to nominate them,\" Rully said.<\/p>\n
Several names have been mentioned as Golkar presidential
\ncandidates, including Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid and media
\ntycoon Surya Paloh.<\/p>\n
Former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. (ret) Wiranto
\nand former chief of the Army's Strategic Reserve Command
\n(Kostrad), Lt. Gen (ret) Prabowo Subianto, have also been tipped
\nto join the selection process.<\/p>\n
Those wishing to participate in the convention have to fill in
\nthe forms and complete all the requirements before their
\nnominations will be verified.<\/p>\n
Aspirants passing the verification stage will then travel to
\nthe regions to present their manifestos to the regional branch
\noffices of the Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
Although the idea of having a convention was originally widely
\nhailed, many have since speculated that the move is designed to
\nseek an alternative presidential candidate should the Supreme
\nCourt uphold Akbar Tandjung's conviction.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish, who has frequently expressed his readiness to
\nparticipate in the Golkar convention, said his biggest rival at
\nthe convention would be Akbar as he was the party chairman.<\/p>\n
Akbar refused to answer questions posed by journalists on
\nThursday as to whether or not he would stand in the next
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Timeline<\/p>\n
July 11 - July 30: Registration period; August 7, 2003:
\nDeadline to return forms and required documents; August 21,
\n2003: Campaigning in regional branches; Oct. 15, 2003:
\nConvention at regional levels; Oct. 20, 2003: Each province
\nselects 5 candidates; Feb. 2004: Final decision.<\/p>",
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