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)