Amien seeks support from Bush, Howard

JAKARTA: National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais is to seek international support for his presidential bid in 2004 along with his running mate, likely from the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Amien, also People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker, embarked for Canberra on Sunday to meet with Australian Prime Minister John Howard to solicit his support.

Speaking here on Saturday, Amien said he was also seeking a chance to meet U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington for a similar purpose.

"If President George Bush is the world's sheriff, then John Howard is often dubbed as the deputy sheriff. There is no harm if I visit the deputy before meeting with the sheriff," he said.

Another reason for Amien to visit Australia for one week was that he has a close relationship with Howard, whom he described as his "good friend".

Amien said he had decided to select a retired general as his presidential running mate in a move to gain support from TNI, which remains among the most powerful forces in politics.

However, he declined to name the retired general in question.

In order to win support from nationalist groups, Amien went to the tomb of founding president Sukarno last June in Blitar, East Java. He was accompanied at that time by Sukarno's daughter Rachmawati Soekarnoputri.

Amien and Rachmawati are among presidential candidates to challenge the incumbent, Megawati Soekarnoputri, her sister. --JP