Golkar opposes limiting terms of presidency

Golkar opposes limiting terms of presidency

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chief Harmoko said yesterday his party
opposed limiting the number of terms that a person could serve as
president.

"The post of president should not be limited and Golkar
rejects any suggestion of it," he told 100,000 supporters at a
rally in Palembang, South Sumatra.

The crowd reacted enthusiastically by screaming, "Long live
Golkar, long live the President, long live the President," after
his every word.

Harmoko, also the minister of information, said there was no
reason for debate because presidential terms and re-election were
clearly set out in the 1945 Constitution.

"As long as the president is re-elected by the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) then it's all perfectly legal and
does not violate the Constitution," he said.

Harmoko was accompanied by President Soeharto's youngest son,
Hutomo Mandala Putra, tycoon Pontjo Sutowo and dangdut singer
Rhoma Irama, who recently switched his allegiance from the United
Development Party (PPP) to Golkar, earning the wrath of many
fans.

Harmoko said that limiting the terms of the presidency would
limit the rights and will of the people.

"We should respect the MPR, we should respect the people," he
said, working the crowd into a fervor.

Soeharto has been president since 1967. He is set to enter his
seventh five-year term next year with no formal opposition in
sight.

Harmoko said presidents should be replaced if they violate the
constitution or Broad Guidelines of State Policies. But the
public should be grateful for having a leader who had remained
faithful to his mandate and successfully completed his
development tasks.

Promises

While plugging Golkar's development success, Harmoko said that
not everything was rosy.

"Golkar doesn't turn a blind eye to the fact that, despite the
successful development during the New Order, there are some
shortcomings and weaknesses which must be addressed."

He said his party had initiated this election's "dialog
campaign" to address and present its plans to the public.

"Golkar isn't going to launch a cheap campaign aimed at firing
up people's emotions and hatred," he said.

Meanwhile, on Batam Island, Golkar Riau branch chief Rivaie
Rachman told a rally of factory workers that his party had
improved welfare in the province by setting up the Least
Developed Villages assistance scheme.

When questioned on persisting economic disparity, Rivaie said
people were poor because they were unmotivated.

"The reason is that people don't try to change themselves," he
said. Development was continuing so the poor were the ones who
failed to exploit their opportunities.

In Jambi, Golkar campaigner Marzuki Usman said his party
planned to see that all children by 2020 would have an
opportunity to attend school for 12 years. He was speaking to
several thousand young first-time voters, Antara reported.

In Bandar Lampung, campaigner Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana praised
thousands of young supporters for not fighting supporters of the
other parties during the campaign.

"I'm proud of you because you love peace, so there are never
any political clashes." She was accompanied by actors, Rano
Karno, Mandra and Suti Karno, and singers, Chintami Atmanagara
and Dorce Gamalama. (mds)