Former students nominate Soeharto for president
Former students nominate Soeharto for president
JAKARTA (JP): Former student leaders, whose street demonstrations in 1966 were pivotal in paving the way for the rise of President Soeharto to power, urged the nation yesterday to re-elect the incumbent in 1998 for another five year term.
The Front for Indonesian Students and Youths (KAPPI) joined more than a dozen other organizations which have called on Soeharto to stay in power after his current term ends.
KAPPI Chairman Abdullah Puteh told a media briefing that 74- year old Soeharto was the only national figure who has the stature and capability to lead the country.
"He is experienced, wise and a logical thinker," Puteh said in a briefing held on the eve of the 30th anniversary commemoration of the launching of the street demonstrations that led to the downfall of then President Sukarno and opened the way for the rise of Soeharto, then a young Army general, to power.
Puteh denied that KAPPI's announcement was influenced by other organizations calling for Soeharto's re-election. "We do not imitate. This is our stance and it is a final one," he insisted.
While pivotal, KAPPI was not the only movement or action front accredited with the massive street demonstrations in 1966. Several other organizations, including the Front for Indonesian University Students (KAMI) and the Front for Students Movement (KAPI) have also laid claim to the credits.
Today, these organizations will have a nostalgic reunion, including a meeting with President Soeharto.
Puteh did not say whether he intended to raise KAPPI's nomination during the meeting today.
Formal nomination is not due until March 1998 at the gathering of the People's Consultative Assembly.
Jan. 10 marked the launching of the street demonstrations demanding immediate action in three issues by the then president, Sukarno: The reduction of prices, the disbanding of the cabinet and the banning of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).
The three demands are popularly known by their Indonesian acronyms Tritura which stands for the People's Three Demands.
A seminar organized by exponents of the "Generation 1966" yesterday reviewed the 30 years since the launch of the Tritura and concluded that while the commitment of most of these former student leaders to the cause remain strong, some of them have not lived up to the spirit of Tritura. (01)