Amien, Gus Dur back Megawati's presidency bid

Amien, Gus Dur back Megawati's presidency bid

JAKARTA (JP): Two prominent government critics supported
yesterday Megawati Soekarnoputri's bid for presidency, lauding
the bold move as a boost for democratization.

Moslem scholars Amien Rais and Abdurrahman Wahid, however,
tempered their appreciation by expressing doubt that the
declaration of the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) would cause more than just a ripple in real politics,
given that Megawati was actually residing out of the "system".

Chairman of the dominant Golkar Harmoko said in Tulungagung,
East Java, that everybody could have a bid at presidency, but it
should be done through proper mechanisms. He was also quoted by
Antara as saying yesterday that people could not just name
themselves presidential candidates "out of the blue".

"Megawati has only a slight chance as she fights for the
presidency from outside the system," said Amien Rais, who leads
the 28 million-strong Muhammadiyah Moslem organization and who
was recently named a presidential candidate by a branch of the
United Development Party (PPP).

"It is almost impossible as the government always refers (the
presidential succession) to the People's Consultative Assembly's
mechanism," Amien said.

Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, agreed.

"It (Megawati's declaration of willingness to be president)
will affect political life here, although (the effect) will not
be as great as some people would expect," Abdurrahman said.

"(The bid) is almost impossible to materialize as it is not
made through the system."

Abdurrahman said millions of people here still depended on the
prevailing political system for reform rather than on opposition
parties.

Megawati, the eldest daughter of Indonesia's first president
Sukarno, declared her readiness to become a presidential
candidate Saturday and urged incumbent President Soeharto not to
run for a seventh consecutive term.

"With all sincerity and honesty ... I will be ready to lead
this country if it is the wish and aspiration of the people," she
said at a ceremony commemorating the PDI's 25th anniversary.

Amien said Megawati's declaration was a greatly needed
breakthrough for Indonesia. Few political figures have dared to
step forward and name themselves presidential candidates.

Amien himself, after making countless demands for succession,
said he "dared" to become president should he be nominated.

Amien also supported Megawati's call for Soeharto not to seek
another term.

"It is time Soeharto stepped down as (this is) a prerequisite
to overcome the present multidimensional crisis," he said.

He said it was also time the government encouraged several
leading political figures to nominate or be nominated as
presidential candidates.

"If the government allows this, at least half a dozen people
will come out and (declare their readiness to) replace Soeharto,"
Amien said.

Megawati cited Saturday names like Vice President Try
Sutrisno, Minister of Information R. Hartono, Army Chief of Staff
Gen. Wiranto, State Minister of Research and Technology B.J.
Habibie, State Minister of National Development Planning
Ginandjar Kartasasmita, former vice president Sudharmono and
former minister of home affairs Rudini as people who have often
been lauded as possible candidates.

Abdurrahman said the country's current political situation was
uncertain and subject to social unrest.

"The system of national succession is uncertain ... we do not
know how it works," Abdurrahman said, referring to the
government's lack of transparency in its efforts to cope with the
economic crisis.

"House of Representatives' members should summon the
government to explain the crisis, but unfortunately they are not
willing to do this."

He said economic and political reforms were necessary, but it
would be some time before they can be carried out.

"Something inside our political system must be fixed first,"
he said.

He warned that people's anger was building up all the time and
may reach a critical stage in three or four years when they will
"take action".

He said people would resort to violence if "the government
does not deliver what the people need".

He called on the government to show political maturity in
dealing with the mounting public pressure for political and
economic reform. (10)