Emil has no plan to establish political force

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)