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)