Amien's 'axis force' gets broad support

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Political observers gave a vote of confidence to the newly emerging political force Amien Rais established to offset the current polarization between those who support Megawati Soekarnoputri and those who back incumbent President B.J. Habibie.

Mochtar Mas'oed of Gadjah Mada University here said the new force, called the axis force, could win the presidential election, although the group's very plurality could cause it difficulties.

The initiative for the so-called axis force came from National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Rais, who was able to attract to the group at least eight political parties which, individually, did not fare well in the June 7 general election. Together, however, the parties command at least 168 seats in the House of Representatives. Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) controls 154 seats in the House, and Golkar, the party which made Habibie its presidential nominee, has 120 House seats.

"The (new force) would be able to form a solid faction in the People's Consultative Assembly," Mochtar said. "Amien would have a great chance at the next presidency because he is so far the biggest selling point of the force."

Mochtar said Amien's recent remark that Abdurrahman Wahid would be the force's presidential candidate was only a tactic to win the sympathy of the members of Abdurrahman's Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest Muslim organization. "Amien is the most representative figure."

Amien made the remark during a gathering in Jakarta on Sunday of the leaders of the eight major political parties. Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, however, reiterated his support for Megawati as president.

Indria Samego of the National Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said on Monday in Jakarta the axis force was a democratic effort on the part of Islam-based parties to challenge Habibie and Megawati for the presidency.

The ongoing rivalry between the camps of Habibie and Megawati has created too great a polarization and could be seen as being incompatible with Indonesian culture, which prefers harmony, Indria said.

Therefore, those groups with considerable numbers of followers are driven to form alternative powers, he said.

"As long as their maneuver is democratic it is acceptable," he said.

United Development Party (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz made clear on Monday in Bogor that those in the axis force would not support Habibie in the upcoming presidential election.

Crescent Star Party (PBB) chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the intent of the new force was not to obstruct Megawati's presidential bid. "It's just a democratic development."

Meanwhile, political expert Cornelis Lay of Gadjah Mada University criticized Habibie for seeking the presidency despite his earlier promise that he would only serve as a transitional president and guide Indonesia to the general election. (05/23/24/44)