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)