Govt to hold elections: Amien

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)