Amien, Megawati meet to reaffirm bid for presidency

Amien, Megawati meet to reaffirm bid for presidency

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Prominent government critics Amien Rais and
Megawati Soekarnoputri met here yesterday under the glare of
great publicity to reaffirm their bid for the 1998/2003
presidency.

In a gathering of some 5,000 students, Megawati -- the ousted
leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) -- touted what
she called a common perception and goal with Amien, the chairman
of the 28-million-strong Muhammadiyah Moslem organization.

"What Mas Amien thinks of is for the good of the nation. This
is also something that I think of, and I believe we can
cooperate," said Megawati in the meeting also attended by Mudrick
Sangidoe, the chairman of the Surakarta branch of the United
Development Party (PPP) known for actions independent of the
party line.

Megawati said she was serious in her bid for the presidency.
Amien had expressed his seriousness in a gathering Saturday in
Jakarta.

"We will (join forces) with parties who have noble intentions
for the nation," she said, to which Amien responded: "If one of
us becomes the next president, the other can become the vice
president."

Megawati said the economic and political reforms facing
Indonesia are not something that can be solved by one or two
people.

"They cannot be overcome by one Amien Rais and one Megawati
alone. I am asking you students to come forward with what it is
that we should do," she said in response to one student who
challenged her to reveal "concrete actions" to overcome the
economic and political crisis.

In the gathering held at the Indonesian Islamic University
(UII) campus on Jl. Cik Ditiro, Amien said Indonesian youths
seeking regeneration in the state leadership should not despair
about the renomination of incumbent President Soeharto to another
term by the dominant Golkar and the PPP.

"We'd better not force a presidential succession now, because
the result may not be good, but let us become witnesses of
history as to whether they (the current leaders) can manage the
present crisis," he told the audience.

Megawati said "the Indonesian ship is sinking" and "its
passengers ... can not just sit and hold discussions on the
sinking ship".

"In the past Pak Harto rejected (the motion) to have my father
named president for life. But now, why is he willing to be
nominated for the seventh time?" said Megawati, the eldest
daughter of Indonesia's founding president Sukarno.

On Saturday, Amien said not only was he serious in his bid for
the presidency, but he would also be seeking support from both
formal and informal institutions.

Addressing the launch of a book on his political views, Suara
Amien Rais, Suara Rakyat (The voice of Amien Rais, the voice of
the people), he said he was unflinching about his presidential
aspirations. "Insya Allah (God willing), I will be ready for the
presidency."

He also claimed that he had established a shadow cabinet, but
refused to divulge further information.

"It's part of my secret strategy," he said.

Responding to a suggestion by University of Indonesia
political scientist Maswadi Rauf, Amien said he would lobby the
five factions in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

"We still need formal support from the MPR," he said.
"However, we also need support from the public."

Constitutionally, the five MPR factions -- Golkar, the United
Development Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party, the Armed
Forces and regional representatives -- will be the ones to select
the president and vice president during a general meeting of the
Assembly, scheduled for March 1 to March 11.

Amien dismissed the argument that it was difficult to find
individuals capable of becoming president.

"People should remember that presidents in several other
countries are not always university graduates or from government
institutions," he said.

He cited former Polish president Lech Walesa, who used to work
as a laborer at the Gdansk dockyard; Czech president Vaclav
Havel, who was a poet; and former Philippine president Corazon
Aquino, who was a housewife.

Amien said the most important requirements were honesty,
transparency, managerial skills, and a strong commitment to the
people.

Maswadi said Indonesians only had themselves to blame for not
prompting a "real" presidential succession in the New Order
government's 32-year history.

He said that, in practice, leadership succession only occurred
at the vice presidency level, in the cabinet and lower-ranked
government positions.

"It's not only the MPR members who are to blame, but also the
people," he said. (23/imn/aan)