Govt to hold elections: Amien

JAKARTA (JP): Leading opposition figure Amien Rais has claimed that President B.J. Habibie told him that elections would be held within 12 months.

Amien, who met with Habibie at his private residence in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Saturday, revealed the results of the meeting to journalists last night, saying that the President had responded affirmatively about the possibility of elections.

"'Well between 6 months to a year.' That is exactly what he said!" Amien cited Habibie as saying.

"Come on, how can I stay until 2003. I am only staying to prepare for an election of a new MPR/DPR which is truly chosen by the people, and after that I'm done," Amien again quoted Habibie.

Also present during the one-hour meeting with Habibie were noted scholar Nurcholis Madjid, lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution and former cabinet ministers Emil Salim and Rudini.

Amien said Habibie invited him and the others to the meeting to be asked to establish an independent body to recommend proposals for reforms.

Amien told journalists yesterday that he would not join the body since it would be more effective "if I stay outside", adding that if he joined, there could be an impression that he was being coopted.

Many observers have asserted that Habibie, sworn in to replace Soeharto on Thursday, should hold elections soon so that a new president and vice president can be appointed.

Amien, a core figure in the reform movement which brought down Soeharto, has been one of the most vocal in demanding elections.

He claimed that Habibie assured him that he would publicly announce that his administration was merely a transitional government within the next few days.

Much of Saturday night's meeting focused on the possibility of elections.

Amien recounted how the president asked former home affairs minister Rudini on the possibility of holding new polls.

"When asked about the election, Habibie turned and asked Rudini 'Is it possible to hold elections in six months?' Then Rudini replied that a normal election must be prepared three years in advance, 'but if we are in a very desperate situation and need to have elections as soon as possible, maybe we can make it one year'. So this is what Habibie believes."

When asked if Habibie seemed sincere, Amien said he believed he was.

"I did not have an impression that Habibie wants to deceive us," Amien said, adding that he then consoled Habibie by telling him "Of course you can become one of the presidential candidates in the future. He just smiled when I told him that."

Apart from talking about the meeting with Habibie, last night's media conference was held to announce a statement from the Majelis Amanah Rakyat (MAR), or Council of People's Mandate.

The eight-point statement called for Habibie to hold a clean, fair and honest election.

Amien announced the establishment of MAR two weeks ago. The group's membership includes human rights campaigner Albert Hasibuan and senior journalists Fikri Djufri and Goenawan Mohamad.

Trial

Earlier on Saturday, Amien criticized Habibie's newly announced cabinet as being a mere extension of the old government.

"There are still certain individuals who seem to be an extension of Cendana (former president Soeharto's residence). There is still a scent of nepotism and cronyism," he said during a seminar at Trisakti University.

Habibie's new 36-member cabinet is comprised of 20 ministers from the old Seventh Development Cabinet established by Soeharto in March.

When asked about the physical safety guarantee given by Armed Forces commander Gen. Wiranto to Soeharto as a former president, Amien acknowledged that such protection was acceptable but that the legal process and accountability against the former president should continue.

"But due process of law against Pak Harto and his family should be taken under the basis of innocence until proven guilty," said Amien.

"After the legal process (if found guilty) then all the wealth illegally obtained has to be returned to the people. Specifically for Pak Harto, given his contributions to the nation, a pardon can be considered.

"But for Mbak Tutut (Soeharto's eldest daughter) and her siblings, if they are proven guilty then there should be no pardon. They should then be punished in accordance to the law," Amien asserted. (byg)