Activists step up bid for Emil's VP candidacy

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)