Emil has no plan to establish political force

SURABAYA (JP): Despite growing political stature accorded him by thousands who support his bid for the vice presidency, senior economist Emil Salim says he has no intention to build a political force.

"I am not supported by money, much less arms. I do not have anything but my conscience, and the support of intellectuals and activists of non-governmental organizations," said the former cabinet minister and cofounder of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI).

"I do not have any intention to build a political force," he told hundreds of local students and scholars attending a discussion titled "The Economic Crisis and the New Paradigm for Indonesian Development" at Surabaya University here Saturday.

He suggested that economic reform be carried out based on transparency, justice, populism, democratization and conscience.

Regarding the growing number of people who want him for vice president, he insisted he would not be persuaded into campaigning for political reform through unconstitutional means. "It is not because I am afraid or a coward, but I do not like violence, unconstitutional ways or irresponsibility," he said.

"I am not out just to seek a (vice presidential) seat or some sort of bargaining power. I am being nominated by my friends," he said. "Even if I lose, at the very least I would have fought in the battle of ideas."

Emil, whose supporters describe him as an honest and respectable man, said he was only following his conscience and aiming at providing people with political education. He called on intellectuals and activists to join those already standing up for reform and against those who want to maintain the status quo.

He said he believed his stance was not in violation of the constitution.

During the discussion Saturday, some 200 students and dozens of scholars expressed support for Emil's bid for the vice presidency. Among the intellectuals were Surabaya University's rector Anton Priyatno, noted lawyer Trimoelja D. Soerjadi, and lecturers of state-run Airlangga University's School of Social and Political Sciences and state-run Surabaya Institute of Technology.

The support of intellectuals in the East Java capital adds to the support already voiced by activists from various non- governmental organizations. They include Nelly Adam Malik and R. Karlina Wirahadikusumah -- the widow of late vice president Adam Malik and the wife of former vice president Umar Wirahadikusumah respectively.

The doyen of Indonesian economists, Soemitro Djojohadikusumo, has also voiced support for Emil.

Separately, political observer Rudini said it was Emil's right to run for the vice presidency.

"And yet he should... withdraw if later he is not nominated by any of the five factions in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in its General Session next month," said Rudini, who is a former minister of home affairs.

Golkar, the Armed Forces, the regional representatives, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) factions have all nominated State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie as running mate to incumbent President Soeharto for the 1998/2003 term of office.

The Assembly will elect a vice president after consulting the newly elected president during the General Session.

Some faction leaders have said Emil does not stand a chance.

NU

The 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization announced Friday that it would not throw its support behind anyone in the quest for state leadership.

"NU members should not join those who have expressed support for certain presidential and vice presidential candidates," said the organization in a statement.

"Let us leave the decision to the mechanism in the MPR," it said.

The announcement was drafted and issued after a four-hour plenary meeting of NU's Tanfidziyah (executive body) Friday afternoon.

The meeting was cochaired by chairman of NU's Syuriyah (lawmaking body) Ilyas Rukhiat and NU's deputy chairman Hafidz Usman, in the absence of chairman Abdurrahman Wahid who is recuperating from brain surgery performed on Jan. 20. (nur/imn/swe)