Youths divided over presidential election<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's next presidential election may not
\nbe until 1998, but the debate over whether there should be one or
\nmore candidates is already heating up.<\/p>\n
More than 50 students from various universities in Java and
\nBali yesterday submitted a petition to the House of
\nRepresentatives demanding a more democratic election and more
\nthan one presidential candidate. Calling themselves the
\nDemocratic Alliance of the People, the students were received by
\nmembers of the Indonesian Democratic Party faction.<\/p>\n
A day earlier, on Sunday, the youth wing of the ruling Golkar
\ngroup declared its support for the renomination of President
\nSoeharto for another five-year term. Soeharto has been leading
\nthe country for six consecutive terms.<\/p>\n
The youth wing, known as GM Gakari, plans to mobilize
\nentertainers to garner public support for the renomination,
\nAntara reported.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, the alliance activists said that article 6 of the
\n1945 Constitution stipulates that the president and vice
\npresident are elected by a majority of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
\"This means that there has to be more than one candidate for
\npresident or vice president,\" read the group's political
\nstatement signed by its secretary-general Pius Lustrilanang.<\/p>\n
The 1,000-seat MPR will meet in 1998 to establish the Broad
\nGuidelines of State Policies and to elect a new president.<\/p>\n
The students charged that principles of democracy have not
\nbeen implemented since the New Order administration came to power
\n30 years ago. Since 1971, when the first general election under
\nthe New Order was held, \"we never had more than one presidential
\ncandidate\", the students said.<\/p>\n
PDI faction spokesman Popo Sonadar Harun promised to bring the
\npetition to a meeting with other faction leaders. \"We have to
\nestablish a united opinion about your petition,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Popo said that his party already has decided on its candidate
\nfor the 1998 presidential election. \"Many PDI chapters have
\nexpressed their support for Megawati Soekarnoputri,\" he said,
\nreferring to the party's chief.<\/p>\n
\"But whether she will be unanimously accepted as the PDI
\ncandidate will need to be discussed further at a national PDI
\nforum,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Support for Soeharto's renomination has been pouring in from
\nvarious institutions and individuals, including chairman of the
\nSupreme Advisory Board Sudomo, Minister of Transmigration Siswono
\nYudohusodo and a number of Golkar executives.<\/p>\n
The activists yesterday said they support the recently
\nestablished Independent Election Monitoring Committee, which they
\nbelieve will facilitate a more democratic, honest and fair
\nelection.<\/p>\n
\"The independent committee is part of a process to democratize
\nthe general elections,\" Pius said. \"The government should welcome
\nit, rather than treat it with suspicion.\"<\/p>\n
More than 50 journalists, lawyers, statesmen, academics and
\nactivists established the watchdog on March 15 to correct the way
\nelections have been held in the past.<\/p>\n
In January, a similar independent monitoring committee was
\nestablished in Bandung, West Java. The initiative was followed by
\nthe establishment of several regional independent committees in
\nvarious cities.<\/p>\n
The idea for an independent committee originated with the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP), which alleges that cheating in
\nprevious elections has gone unpunished.<\/p>\n
Several PPP chapters in the provinces have openly threatened
\nto boycott next year's election unless the government, which
\nbacks Golkar, guarantees fairness.<\/p>\n
Critics say that the current electoral system favors Golkar,
\nwhich has won the last five general elections. (imn)<\/p>",
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