Emil has no chance for VP post: Golkar officials

Emil has no chance for VP post: Golkar officials

JAKARTA (JP): Emil Salim kept to his word yesterday and
pressed ahead with his vice presidential bid only to find that
the dominant Golkar faction, which supports B.J. Habibie, had
shut the door in his face.

Golkar officials in the People's Consultative Assembly told
Emil's supporters that their support for Soeharto and Habibie as
the next president and vice president was final.

A dozen of well-known academics, non-governmental organization
activists and famous figures urged Golkar legislators to consider
Emil for the post of vice president.

Agus Purnomo, spokesman for Gema Madani, or Echo of Civil
Society, the grouping which coordinates support for Emil, claimed
that as of yesterday it had collected over 10,000 signatures
supporting his nomination.

The supporters come from myriad socioeconomic, political and
educational backgrounds and range from housewives to Emil's
former cabinet colleagues.

Among the well-known figures who had the privilege to speak to
Golkar legislators on the first day of the General Session were
sociologist Selo Sumardjan, psychologist Saparinah Sadli, human
rights activist Clementino dos Reis Amaral and former Golkar
legislator Nafsiah Mboi. They issued stickers inscribed with Emil
Salim Pilihan Saya, or Emil Salim is my choice.

Their dialogue with Golkar, held in a packed meeting room in
the Assembly building, received huge media attention. The massed
ranks of the media appeared to support Emil. They spontaneously
cheered Emil's camp but jeered the Golkar executives.

In their petition submitted to the Golkar faction, Emil's
supporters listed numerous qualifications that would make him a
good vice president.

Emil, a former environment minister, was described as honest,
pious, incorruptible, acceptable to all strata of society, as
possessing a vast knowledge of trade and economics, with proven
leadership capability and holding concerns on health,
environmental and social issues.

But Golkar politicians were not impressed with this praise for
Emil, saying instead that Habibie, their sole vice presidential
candidate, was a better choice.

"We all know Pak Emil very well. He is a Golkar cadre and his
qualifications are beyond doubt. His names was among those we
initially listed before we decided to pick Habibie," said Agung
Laksono, who received the petition on behalf of Golkar. He was
accompanied by fellow legislators Moestahid Astari and Fahmi
Idris.

He said that Golkar's choice of Soeharto and Habibie had been
taken with input from people from all walks of life across the
country. Besides, he said, the selection was done through a "very
democratic process."

Emil, also a former minister of transportation in President
Soeharto's cabinet, has repeatedly said that his main intention
is not to be elected vice president, but to show the people how
the principles of democracy should work.

All five factions in the People's Consultative Assembly have
expressed their support for Soeharto and Habibie as president and
vice president respectively.

Former Golkar legislator Amaral, who now works for the
National Commission on Human Rights, said that Golkar had been
"undemocratic" in selecting its candidate for the vice
presidency.

"It seems that Golkar made its choice and then consulted the
people. It should have done the other way around," the human
rights campaigner from East Timor said.

"Golkar's decision is not popular and this could backfire," he
added.

Expressing disappointment, the elderly Selo Sumardjan said the
people could do nothing but "accept" the situation when Golkar
asked its supporters to choose "between Habibie and Habibie".

Saparinah said that in selecting its candidates, Golkar closed
the door on ideas from the wider public.

"The lack of openness in the part of political elite had
encouraged people to take to the streets to demonstrate their
frustration," she warned. (pan/amd)