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.