Habibie selects Wiranto as partner

Habibie selects Wiranto as partner

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie told Golkar leaders on
Wednesday that he picked Indonesian Military chief (TNI) Gen.
Wiranto to be his partner in next week's presidential and vice
presidential race, especially due to the general's ethnic
background and capability.

Speaking to journalists two hours after meeting with party
executives at their headquarters in West Jakarta, the President
pointed out he decided to choose Wiranto to balance his civilian
and non-Javanese background.

Habibie said he was never considered Javanese, although
his mother Tuti Marini Puspowardjojo was Javanese and his late
father was Bugisnese.

"Under this era of reform, we must understand that it is
better that in the duet of president and vice president, one must
represent the largest ethnic group in Indonesia, the Javanese
ethnic group," Habibie said by teleconference, after inaugurating
Baiturrachman Mosque in his hometown of Gorontalo, South
Sulawesi, from Merdeka Palace.

He was asked on Wednesday during a two-hour closed-door talk
with participants of the Golkar leadership meeting to choose one
of Golkar's candidates -- former coordinating minister for
economy, finance and industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Yogyakarta
Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung
and Gen. Wiranto -- for his running mate if he is reelected as
the country's president.

"Insya Allah (God's willing), the figure who will be nominated
by Golkar as vice president is General Wiranto," said the
President.

The President pointed out that he needed a (military) general
as his partner in leading the country for the sake of the
nation's economics and development, because as a military
officer, Wiranto was educated to think strategically to win wars
or challenges.

"It would be difficult for me to imagine that for the next 5
years the other half of the duo in the national leadership did
not have a military background," said Habibie.

The announcement of the Habibie-Wiranto presidential ticket
spooked the interbank foreign exchange market, weakening the
rupiah rate against the American dollar to Rp 8,275 from about Rp
7,855 on Tuesday.

The market was nervous that his partnership with General
Wiranto might bolster Habibie's chance of retaining the
government's top post, dealers said.

Akbar, who was elected the speaker of the House of
Representatives (DPR) last week, said Habibie opted for Wiranto
as his partner in next week's election because the President
believed Wiranto would become the latter's best partner in the
race.

"From four candidates for vice president ... Pak Habibie has
given his preference to General Wiranto," Akbar explained.

Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said on Wednesday the
role of TNI in support of a civilian president was crucial for
Indonesia's stability.

"Clearly, for the foreseeable future, the role of TNI in
support of a civilian president is crucial for Indonesia's
stability," Goh said in reply to questions from The Straits Times
after delivering a speech in parliament.

The Singapore leader said each of the three presidential
candidates would need TNI's support, with some more than others.

"The greater the support the new president has, the less
stretched the resources of TNI will be," Goh added.

Akbar, meanwhile, vowed that his party would make all out
efforts to ensure Habibie and Wiranto's victory. However, he also
indicated that Golkar might have to abandon them, especially if
Habibie's accountability speech was rejected by the People's
Consultative Assembly.

The leadership meeting, said Akbar, mandated the central
executive board to take all necessary measures to cope with any
emergency situation.

"When an urgent decision is required during the process of
candidacy, the party chapters will recommend the central board to
take the necessary steps," Akbar added.

Separately, Habibie received Wiranto and presidential hopeful
Abdurrahman Wahid at his private residence in Patra Kuningan,
South Jakarta, on Wednesday evening.

Abdurrahman, also known as Gus Dur, said he did not raise the
presidential election issue with Habibie and Wiranto because it
was only a meeting between old friends.

"We miss each other because we have not met for a week," said
Gus Dur after having dinner with Habibie and Wiranto.

Wiranto, who is also minister of defense and security, refused
to make any comment and quickly rushed to his car. "Wait until
tomorrow," he said before entering his car.

In Yogyakarta, Sultan Hamengkubuwono expressed his
disagreement with Golkar's decision to let Habibie pick the vice
presidential candidate as such an action would only trigger
internal conflicts within the party.

"It can backfire and plunge Golkar into trouble," said the
governor.

Meanwhile, Muslim scholar Nurcholis Madjid said he was ready
to be an alternative presidential candidate should the Assembly
face a deadlock on the presidential election.

"Alternative means in a very distressed and uncontrolled
condition," Nurcholis, also known as Cak Nur, told reporters on
Wednesday.

When reporters repeated questions on his readiness to be
president, Nurcholis answered, "At least, I will not run away."

Nurcholis held his stance that a candidate of the party with
the most votes should get first chance to be president and take
the first initiative.

The Megawati Soekarnoputri-led Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) won the most votes with 153 seats in
the House of Representatives (DPR). "Unfortunately, Megawati
didn't take any initiative," Nurcholis said, adding that some of
his friends from PDI Perjuangan felt disappointed with her
passivity.

Nurcholis also acknowledged that there was a wrong mind set.
"They take it for granted that having won 33 percent of the vote
is sufficient to have Megawati as president," he said.
(44/05/prb/vin)