Habibie the best, Golkar insists

JAKARTA (JP): A top Golkar official said on Monday President B.J. Habibie was the ruling grouping's best candidate for the presidency.

While acknowledging that Golkar has yet to make an official declaration, deputy chairman Theo L. Sambuaga said Habibie was considered the most appropriate and likely to be elected from among its ranks.

"We cannot say who our candidate is, but this is based on an earlier statement of the Golkar chairman," he said at the second Asian-German Editors Forum discussion on "Pre-election Indonesia".

On Tuesday, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said priority for the presidential nomination was for current or former Cabinet members, a criteria inclusive of Habibie.

Theo declined to name other considered candidates, adding Golkar might officially announce its candidate only a few weeks before the June 7 poll.

Meanwhile, Minister of Justice Muladi urged Golkar, the United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Budi Hardjono to register at his ministry.

Although the political mainstays technically met requirements of clause 20 in the new law on political parties, they should also "adjust themselves to the law". Parties are required to register with the justice ministry by Feb. 21.

"The name, symbol and party executive composition of the parties have been changed," Muladi was quoted as saying by Antara after opening the Indonesian Civil Servants Corps (KORPRI) congress.

The United Development Party has reverted from the crescent and star symbols to the Kaaba, the Muslim holy shrine in Mecca. Golkar, which has long styled itself as a "functional grouping", has announced it will become an official party on March 7.

The Indonesian Democratic Party faction under Budi is encountering an executive vacuum after officials in several branches switched allegiance to the breakaway Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) led by Megawati Soekarnoputri.

As of Monday, 91 parties were registered, with 45 meeting requirements as corporate bodies in the State Gazette. The parties will be further selected by the Team of Eleven, a grouping of respected public figures preparing groundwork for the National Election Committee which starts work on March 1.

Chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) Yusril Ihza Mahendra and chairman of the Indonesian Uni-Democratic Party (PUDI) Sri Bintang Pamungkas also registered their parties on Monday. Ismunandar, PDI's deputy chairman, said his party would soon obtain notarial documents for establishment of the party. PPP officials were unavailable for comment.

However, new parties on Monday rejected registration with the team following their incorporation.

Although he complied with the justice ministry registration, Sri Bintang said: "The court is the only institution with authority to legalize and select political parties."

The team is scheduled to start verifying parties on Thursday. Team leader Nurcholish Madjid said it would do its best and strive to reject any government meddling.

Six parties registered by Monday with the team are the Republic Party, Party for the Enhancement of the Citizenry, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Cokroaminoto-led Indonesian Islamic Congregation Party, Justice Party and Party for Indonesian People's Struggle.

At the forum with editors, Golkar, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and the National Mandate Party said they had set targets to win enough seats to lead the much-predicted coalition government after the polls.

Parties will vie for 462 seats of the 500-seat House of Representatives. The remainder are allocated the Armed Forces (ABRI).

Along with 200 other democratically appointed legislators, House members will make the 700-seat People's Consultative Assembly, the highest lawmaking body that will elect the president and vice president.

Theo said Golkar targeted 40 percent, or 185 seats, and PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Mochtar Buchori said his party aimed for 210 seats, 45 percent of total legislative seats. The executives said they were open for coalition partnerships.

National Mandate Party chairman Amien Rais was quoted by AFP as saying in Hong Kong on Monday he was ready to form a coalition with PDI Perjuangan. He believed they would secure the most votes.

A party will need to secure a 51 percent majority vote in the Assembly to elect its presidential nominee.

Also on Monday, British envoy Robin Christopher signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Program, which is coordinating foreign donors to support democratic activities in Indonesia. He said his government was committed to providing US$2 million to support the polls. (rms/aan/01)