Equal opportunity sought for all in election of VP

Equal opportunity sought for all in election of VP

JAKARTA (JP): A cabinet minister called on the nation
yesterday to carefully select the country's best son or daughter,
regardless of their background, to accompany President Soeharto
in leading Indonesia toward the third millennium.

Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo said an equal
opportunity should be given to all potential candidates for the
vice presidential post, whether they come from civil or military
circles.

Siswono said that the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has
received a list of names of candidates from the public, which
includes the incumbent Vice President Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno.

Siswono said Try had proven himself to be one of the country's
best sons through his impressive record in his current post.

"In my view, he is very good and capable of creating a
comfortable atmosphere for the nation," Siswono said after
meeting with Try at Merdeka Selatan Palace yesterday.

Up to yesterday, there had been 13 names registered as vice
presidential material at the People's Consultative Assembly --
the body which will elect a president, vice president and endorse
the State Policy Guidelines in its assembly next year.

Six of those touted have a military background: incumbent Try
Sutrisno; Minister of Defense Gen. (ret) Edi Sudradjat; Minister
of Information Gen. (ret) R. Hartono; State Minister of National
Development Planning Vice Marshall (ret) Ginandjar Kartasasmita;
Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung; and Army Chief of Staff
Gen. Wiranto.

The civilian candidates include House Speaker Harmoko; State
Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie; Soeharto's
eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana; chairman of Moslem
organization Muhammadiyah Amien Rais; and chairman of the United
Development Party (PPP) Ismail Hasan Metareum.

"We must not restrict ourselves in finding the primus inter
pares, the best candidate... because the position is very
strategic," said Siswono.

The 76-year-old Soeharto is widely tipped to be reelected for
his seventh consecutive term next March. The question of who will
be elected vice president has been attracting more attention
because, according to the 1945 Constitution, he or she will
automatically replace the President when the latter becomes
incapacitated.

Try's nomination in 1993 sparked controversy because then
Armed Forces (ABRI) chief for sociopolitical affairs Lt. Gen.
Harsudiono Hartas announced Try as the candidate for the ABRI
faction, without consulting Soeharto. The constitution stipulates
that a vice president elect should be able to cooperate with the
elected president.

It is generally believed that the likeliest candidate is one
with a military background, a Javanese and a Moslem.

Outspoken scholar Arbi Sanit, however, doubted Try's
capabilities.

He said Try had not been able to prove his statesmanship
because, as the country's second most senior leader, he never
launched strategic initiatives or ideas.

He acknowledged that Try was a devoted Moslem and a sincere
leader, but added that such factors are not enough to lead a
nation.

"We all agree that he is a nice person. However, what is
important is his capability. People like him, but he is not a
capable man," Arbit told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council K. H. Hasan Basri
said he was confident Soeharto would be reelected in March.

"The vice presidential seat will be a hot issue, and we must
consult with the president-elect on this," the prominent ulema
said in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. (prb/43)