Elders call for informed vote

Elders call for informed vote

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A number of former officials of the New Order government,
activists and public figures signed a public statement on Friday
urging people to use their critical faculties when voting.

"Vote for leaders instead of rulers," said the statement,
called the Jakarta Communique, signed by dozens of well-respected
citizens.

Among them were former home affairs minister Surjadi Soedirja,
former Army deputy chief Lt. Gen.(ret) Kiki Syahnakri, former
National Police chief Gen. (ret) Awaloeddin Djamin, former
religious affairs minister Quraish Shihab. Activists Sulastomo
and A. Mubarok, and journalist Rosihan Anwar also signed the
statement.

"It is important for us to think rationally when casting our
votes," Surjadi said. He urged the public to use their votes on
April 5 to bring about change in the country.

The drawing up of the statement was initiated by the National
Identity Foundation (Yayasan Jatidiri Bangsa), the Straight Path
Movement (Gerakan Jalan Lurus) and the Indonesia Resurrection
Front (Barisan Kebangkitan Indonesia Raya).

Earlier on Thursday evening, a number of politicians,
performers and academics formed an alliance in the hope of
encouraging people to vote for credible leaders in both the
legislative and presidential elections.

The alliance, named the Alliance for Change, sees itself
acting as an opposition group if the elections fail to produce
clean and credible leaders. It is calling on the public not to
vote for "rotten politicians or political parties".

Among the attendees at the meeting were scholar Nurcholish
Madjid, presidential aspirant Siswono Yudo Husodo, former
attorney general Marsillam Simanjuntak, former military chief of
staff Lt. Gen. (ret) Agus Widjojo, and former TNI chief Gen.
(ret) Eddy Sudrajat, who also leads the Indonesian United Justice
Party (PKPI).

The other attendees included activist Teten Masduki,
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) leader Hidayat Nur Wahid, National
Mandate Party (PAN) deputy leader AM Fatwa, and noted poets and
composers Emha Ainun Nadjib and Harry Roesli.

"This year's elections might be successful in terms of the
procedures, but will not be in terms of substance," said
Nurcholish, who has withdrawn his bid to run as a Golkar Party
presidential candidate.

Thus, in the long term the alliance should think of setting
itself up as an opposition grouping, Nurcholish said, to protect
the country from leaders "who will bring us to the brink of
collapse."

The alliance should also support promising coalitions of
parties, he added.