Activists step up bid for Emil's VP candidacy

JAKARTA (JP): Activists from a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) maintained the momentum yesterday to nominate former cabinet minister Emil Salim for the vice presidency, despite some people's belief his campaign does not have even the slightest chance of success.

The activists took their motion to executives of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction at the People's Consultative Assembly, along with 3,000 letters from people who had pledged their support for Emil's nomination.

Included in the list of supporters were R. Karlina Wirahadikusumah, wife of former Vice President Umar Wirahadikusumah, renowned movie actress Marissa Haque and 26 journalists.

Karlina joins fellow former second lady Nelly Adam Malik in seeking the nomination of Emil, a senior economist who helped President Soeharto launch development programs in the early stages of the New Order administration in the mid-1960s.

Group spokesman Agus Purnomo told the PDI executives that the NGOs' campaign would go on despite the fact that all of the five Assembly factions had already named State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie as their lone candidate for the country's second highest post.

"We are trying to make use of the little time left before the general session of the Assembly opens next month. There is always an opportunity, no matter how slim it is," Agus said.

It was the second visit of the group to an Assembly faction after it met with the Regional Representatives on Monday. Agus said meetings with the United Development Party faction and the Armed Forces faction had been arranged.

Agus said the group's reasons for throwing its full weight behind Emil were that the former minister was known for his clean record and piety.

"We consider him the most deserving man to hold the second top post in the wake of the economic woes," Agus said.

He said Emil would meet with an East Javanese ulema and other religious leaders who wished to announce their support for his candidacy bid in Surabaya today.

The chairman of the PDI's Assembly faction, Buttu Hutapea, said in response to the motion that he would discuss the bid with his team.

"It's our responsibility to heed any aspirations from the people, even though we've already nominated B.J. Habibie for the vice presidency," Buttu said.

Separately, another group calling itself the Brotherhood of Nusantara Youths wrote Golkar yesterday, calling on the dominant faction to consider Emil's nomination.

In a statement signed by its coordinator, R. Benu Hidayat, the youth organization said Emil fitted the bill for the vice presidential post, thanks to his leadership skills, moral stature and religious devotion.

"Now that the nation is facing an economic crisis, its president will need a partner with a broad vision, one who masters economics, so the duo can lead the nation in coping with the crisis," the statement said. (amd)