Golkar likely to support Amien's alliance

Golkar likely to support Amien's alliance

JAKARTA (JP): Amien Rais reiterated on Wednesday his support
of Abdurrahman Wahid as the presidential candidate of the
alliance of Muslim-based parties, the so-called "axis force",
which looked set to win the support of the ruling Golkar Party as
well.

In a discussion on the new political alliance, Amien insisted
Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, was superior from other
candidates as he was accepted by practically all the elements in
society.

Also in the seminar, Golkar executive Slamet Effendi Yusuf
said his party was amenable to cooperate with the axis force,
including during the presidential election in November, as long
as both parties would benefit. The alliance was initiated by
Amien and consisted so far of eight Muslim-based parties, which
together may command an estimated 115 seats at the House of
Representatives.

"Gus Dur can be accepted by Protestants, Catholics, Hindus and
Chinese minorities, and especially the Muslims," Amien said in
praise of a man who often did not agree with him in the past.

"Gus Dur also enjoys good relations with the military and
other presidential candidates like Megawati and B.J. Habibie."

Amien conceded that not all members of the axis force shared
the enthusiasm with which he was supporting Abdurrahman, but he
declared the group had agreed not to support Habibie.

"We would welcome Golkar and Megawati if they were willing to
join the axis force," Amien Rais told Antara.

Meanwhile, Slamet said Golkar would not only agree to
cooperate with Amien's group during the upcoming presidential
election in November, but also during the drawing up of the Broad
Guidelines of State Policies and discussions on sensitive issues,
such as the amendment of the 1945 Constitution.

Slamet said that Golkar was also ready to talk with leading
presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri, whose Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) won the highest
vote in the June 7 poll.

Golkar had nominated Habibie as its sole presidential
candidate. Slamet said on Wednesday he likened Habibie to a
bridegroom and Golkar to the wali (the guardian or parents of the
bride). "Whether or not the marriage is legal will depend on the
wali," he said.

Golkar chairman Akbar Tanjung met recently with a string of
other party leaders, including Amien who chairs the National
Mandate Party (PAN), Yusril Ihza Mahendra of the Crescent Star
Party, Abdurrahman himself, who is the founder of the National
Awakening Party (PKB) and chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and
Hamzah Haz, the chairman of the United Development Party (PPP).

Meanwhile in Semarang, Achmad, the chairman of the Nahdlatul
Ulama branch in Central Java, praised Abdurrahman's willingness
to be named the axis force's presidential candidate.

"I know that Abdurrahman is a very wise and kind man. Whoever
wins, whether it is Habibie or Megawati, he won't be upset... he
will be serving only as a backup in the process," Achmad claimed.

Separately, chairman of the East Java chapter of Nahdlatul
Ulama, Hasyim Muzadi, expressed suspicions about the real intent
of the axis force since many of its members were still supporting
Habibie.

"Therefore, do not easily believe the movement to support
Abdurrahman. We, the NU Ulemas, are very well aware of this
matter.

"Has PPP really cut off its political support toward Habibie?
And what about the small Islamic-based parties... are they still
gripped by Habibie's influence?" Hasyim told The Jakarta Post by
phone.

Until the present, he added, Abdurrahman had always let others
be nominated. "He insists the biggest poll winner should name the
president," Hasyim said.

Meanwhile, about 30 students in support of Megawati protested
against the axis force on Tuesday night in front of the PDI
Perjuangan office in Semarang. They rejected Habibie's
nomination.

Separately in the Central Java city of Purwokerto, political
observer Nana Sutikna of Jendral Soedirman University praised
Abdurrahman's willingness as the presidential candidate of the
axis force as it would help ease tension that resulted from the
stiff competition between Megawati and Habibie.

"Abdurrahman's best advantage is that he has a large number of
supporters and a small number of opponents," he said.
(06/45/edt/har/nur)