Golkar steadfast in nomination of Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chairman Harmoko said yesterday the dominant political group would not have any second thoughts about nominating President Soeharto to his seventh consecutive term.

Harmoko, who is also chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in charge of electing a president and vice president next March, said Golkar is committed to nominating the incumbent in the election.

"Golkar will stick to the decision of its leadership meeting last October that Haji Muhammad Soeharto is our only candidate for the 1998/2003 presidency," Harmoko told reporters at his office yesterday.

He was commenting on a statement by Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, President Soeharto's eldest daughter and a Golkar leader, that she would prefer if her father were not reelected so he could spend more time with his family.

Addressing thousands of students of the Semarang-based Diponegoro University Saturday, Hardiyanti (better known as Mbak Tutut), toned down her remarks minutes later by saying that in the end it would be up to the people, represented by the Assembly, to decide whether or not they wished to renominate Soeharto.

Golkar officially decided to nominate Soeharto for the presidency during its leadership meeting here in October. Soeharto, however, told party executives to check again with Golkar cadres and supporters, saying they still had several months to change their mind.

Soeharto also said he was ready to play the pundit role if he did not get reelected. His statement sparked debate for weeks as people sought to understand the meaning behind it. But, according to some analysts, Soeharto will still accept his renomination.

Harmoko said no opinions expressed now could change the stance of Golkar leaders.

"Mbak Tutut's statement will not change Golkar's decision," he said, adding that she was speaking as a daughter at the time. "As a member of a family, it was just normal for her to express concern about her father."

"If she talks as a Golkar deputy chairperson, I believe she will share the same opinion (with Golkar)," he said. "The renomination was an organizational decision, not a personal one."

He dismissed the idea that a special leadership meeting be held to discuss Hardiyanti's remarks.

"The (decision) of Golkar in its October leadership meeting was binding (for all members)," he said. "Golkar has reconfirmed its decision with its members and supporters."

Deputy House Speaker of the Armed Forces faction, Syarwan Hamid, supported Harmoko's stance.

"It's natural for a daughter... to wish to have her father's time, especially because the President has been (busy) with state protocol for more than 30 years," Syarwan told the press.

But Hardiyanti's statement should not be considered final, he added.

"There should be interests that are greater than just a family concern (which is why) we have to renominate President Soeharto," he said.

Meeting

Political analyst Johanes Kristiadi suggested that Hardiyanti raise her idea of not renominating Soeharto at a formal Golkar meeting so the dominant political group could reconsider its renomination.

"Mbak Tutut was only expressing her feeling as a daughter whose relationship with her father has been eclipsed by state protocol for 30 years. This is very humane," said Kristiadi of the Centre for International and Strategic Studies.

Golkar would not necessarily lose face if it accepted Hardiyanti's remarks because it could coincide with the public's opinion.

He said Hardiyanti's statement could serve as an effective way to introduce state leadership succession for the first time in the last three decades. Without her suggestion, it looked unlikely that the MPR would have the courage to pick alternative candidates, he said.

Adi Sasono of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) agreed, saying that the Assembly should listen to Hardiyanti's statement before electing a president in its general session next March.

"It's sort of her (Hardiyanti's), and perhaps the public's, expression of anxiety. Everybody is allowed to have this feeling," he said. (imn/amd)