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)