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)