ABRI formally nominates Habibie

ABRI formally nominates Habibie

JAKARTA (JP): B.J. Habibie's bid for the vice presidency was
confirmed a one-horse race yesterday after the powerful Armed
Forces (ABRI) came out in support of his candidacy.

Clearing Habibie's way to the top, incumbent Vice President
Try Sutrisno unexpectedly announced yesterday he was "unwilling"
to be renominated for the prestigious post for a second term.

Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung said yesterday that
ABRI's support for the civilian Habibie demonstrated its
commitment to promoting democracy.

Briefing journalists, Feisal said the state minister of
research and technology was ABRI's sole candidate for the
1998/2003 term.

"Prof. Dr. B.J. Habibie is the appropriate figure to assist
Haji Muhammad Soeharto with his state duties, including handling
state problems and responding to challenges for the next five
years," he said.

The outgoing ABRI chief also reaffirmed ABRI's support for the
renomination of Soeharto.

He said the Armed Forces headquarters used objective
considerations in choosing its candidates.

"We've never made preferences on the candidates, whether he or
she is a civilian or an Armed Forces member," he said, "The most
important thing is that he or she is among the country's best
figures."

Speaking about the reasons for announcing its presidential and
vice presidential candidates ahead of the General Session of the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Feisal said the decision
was made in response to growing speculation over the state
leadership succession.

"The announcement was made after the other four factions in
the MPR -- Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP), the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the Regional
Representatives -- had declared their candidates," he said.

PPP started the chorus for Soeharto's renomination and
Habibie's vice presidential nomination last Sunday. The dominant
Golkar and the minority PDI picked up the tune on Monday and the
regional representatives joined the choir on Tuesday.

The five-yearly MPR general assembly will be held from March 1
through March 11. Its main tasks will be to elect a president and
vice president and to endorse the 1998/2003 State Policy
Guidelines.

Feisal dismissed speculation that Habibie's nomination would
weaken the rupiah's exchange rate.

"Any efforts to weaken the already-battered rupiah must have
been made by those who mean to destabilize the country," he said.

He denied rumors that ABRI did not like Habibie because the
state minister had forced it to buy expensive military equipment
through the state-run strategic industries.

Asked about efforts to nominate vice presidential candidates
other than Habibie, Feisal said everybody was free to field his
or her own candidates.

Separately, the coordinating chairman of the Armed Forces
factions in both the MPR and the House of Representatives,
Syarwan Hamid, said there would likely be no change in the Armed
Forces' presidential and vice presidential nominations.

Try called a rare media briefing yesterday to announce he was
not interested in being renominated vice president.

He said that he meant to follow the longstanding tradition
that the vice president served only one term.

"I want to continue the tradition, although it is not
regulated in the Constitution," Try told journalists at Merdeka
Selatan Vice Presidential Palace.

Try is the sixth vice president under Soeharto's presidency
since the latter was appointed head of state in 1968. None of his
predecessors served a second term.

PDI was the only MPR faction which asked for Try's
renomination before it chose Habibie. (imn/prb)