Court deals Akbar an ace
Court deals Akbar an ace
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Supreme Court's decision to acquit Golkar chairman Akbar
Tandjung of corruption charges paves the way for his candidacy
for the presidency and boosts the party's ambition to return to
power.
Political analyst Denny JA said on Thursday that Akbar would
likely win the party's presidential convention as many party
leaders considered him a hero.
"His political hand is getting stronger. He is now a feasible
presidential candidate," Denny, who chairs the Indonesian Survey
Institute, told The Jakarta Post Thursday.
"They (Golkar leaders) think that Akbar has given his life to
protect Golkar, and Akbar was able to keep the party united and
turn it into the second largest party," Denny said.
Golkar, the political machine of former dictator Soeharto, won
almost 25 percent of votes cast in the 1999 general election,
making it the second largest party after the ruling Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
J. Kristiadi of the Centre of Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS), meanwhile, said Akbar's acquittal would serve as
fresh ammunition for him to consolidate and win his party's
presidential convention.
"Golkar's convention is practically over and Akbar will become
its presidential candidate," Kristiadi was quoted by Antara as
saying on Thursday.
Golkar is currently organizing a political convention to
select a presidential candidate for the July 5 election.
Besides Akbar, former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen.
(ret) Wiranto, businessman Aburizal Bakrie, media mogul Surya
Paloh, Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, former
Army's Strategic Reserves (Kostrad) commander Lt. Gen. (ret)
Prabowo Subianto, and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare
Jusuf Kalla are all running in the convention.
The country's will hold its first ever direct presidential
election on July 5 and a possible runoff on Sept. 20.
Boy B. Janis, deputy chairman PDI-P expressed doubt over
Tandjung's increased chances of becoming president although he
has been acquitted of corruption charges. The effect would not be
entirely favorable on the Golkar convention, he said, "because
since the beginning the convention was designed to cover up party
leaders who were in trouble."
Hinting at the possibility of the elite within PDI-P courting
Akbar as President Megawati Soekarnoputri's running mate in the
presidential elections, Roy said because the presidential
election would be direct, any attempt at a coalition would have
to involve the grassroots; "We'd have to ask PDI-P supporters
whether they would be willing to partner with Golkar."
Separately, another political expert Mochtar Pabottingi,
warned of increasing rallies, including student demonstrations,
following Akbar's aquittal on Thursday.
"There will be many student protests due to the court
decision. It hurts people's sense of justice," Mochtar of the
Indonesian Institute of Sciences told the Post.
According to Mochtar, since the very beginning, the people
have distrusted the court -- from the lower level to the Supreme
Court -- for not probing the alleged involvement of other Golkar
Party leaders in the graft case.
He also said the verdict would not automatically facilitate
Akbar's presidential candidacy in the party's convention nor in
the next general election.
"Many candidates who distrust Akbar would consider that the
convention was engineered to favor the party chairman," he said.
PDI-P legislator and research head Jacob Tobing said, however,
that there could be a backlash against Golkar.
He told Reuters that, "whatever the decision of the Supreme
Court, the people do not believe Tandjung", although he said PDI-
P respected the court's ruling.