Amien Rais, Try Sutrisno among PKP's presidential candidates
JAKARTA (JP): The Justice and Unity Party (PKP) is to declare its candidate for president on May 8, which it claimed would be a civilian, and would be picked from a number of people, including former vice president Try Sutrisno.
The retired general encouraged the founding of the party, set up by several senior Golkar Party members, but Try has said he is not a member of PKP.
"We will declare a single presidential nominee after discussing several names from all of PKP's branches at the regency level," PKP secretary-general Hayono Isman said Monday after a discussion here.
Candidates could even come from outside the party, he said, citing Amien Rais, chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).
"But I'd rather not mention other candidates because, with the paternalistic culture here, party members in regions may feel obligated to follow the options from the top party leaders ... we want a real democracy to grow," Hayono said.
The former minister of youth and sports revealed four criteria for the presidential candidate: "One with a vision of nationhood, who is widely respected, able to handle conflicts and frictions within the Cabinet and among the elite, able to unite all of them to work for the nation's interest."
Last but not least, he added, "he or she must be a civilian".
The same thing goes for vice president, he said.
PKP chairman Edi Sudrajat hinted earlier this month at former vice president Try Sutrisno becoming a presidential candidate for the 1999/2004 period.
The selection process was still underway, Hayono said, after talks on the country's future held by Forum Keadilan news magazine.
The 63-year-old Try chairs the Armed Forces Veterans Association (PEPABRI). Edi, a former minister of defense and security and a colleague of Try's during his military career, is a PEPABRI member.
Asked why being a "civilian" was a criteria for a presidential candidate, Hayono said it was time for the Armed Forces to step away from politics. Various groups, including students, have demanded that the Armed Forces drop its 'dual function' doctrine justifying its role in politics.
The party was taking its time in naming a candidate, Hayono said, as the issue was crucial in paving the way out of the crisis.
Meanwhile, Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama, said what was important was that the nation had an "honest" president.
"No need to have a clever president but with a 'sneaky' character. Habibie, for instance, is clever but does not have any political insight," Abdurrahman, a founder of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and its presidential candidate, said.
He cited what he described as the 'discreet manner' in which the decision on East Timor was handled.
"The funny part is that Habibie admitted to me that he does not have any political insight because he's 'new to ruling this country'," Abdurrahman said.
"The next president must be able to establish a good international relationship, such as with Israel, as we need their technology... if we can make it with China, why not Israel?"
Indonesia does not have any diplomatic ties with Israel.
In Semarang, chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) chapter here, Ircham, said his party would set up a poll monitoring network along with the National Mandate Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and the Justice and Unity Party. (edt/har)