Harmoko says he won't refuse VP nomination

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar vice presidential candidate Harmoko asserted yesterday his intention to remain in the race until Golkar's chief patron, President Soeharto, decided otherwise.

"I won't refuse my vice presidential nomination," he told reporters after addressing a congress of the Communication Forum of Indonesian Veterans' Children (FKPPI) in East Jakarta.

Commenting on a suggestion that he first relinquish his chairmanship at the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) before jumping into the vice presidential race, Harmoko said yesterday he would first discuss the matter with the Golkar family.

"My nomination is just a preliminary step," said Harmoko, who is also chairman of Golkar.

Asked whether Golkar would eventually come up with only one name, Harmoko said the matter would also be discussed in a meeting of the Golkar family, which includes the Armed Forces (ABRI) and the bureaucracy.

"Our (the coalition of Golkar, ABRI and the bureaucracy) final candidate will be decided after we meet with Golkar's chief patron," he said, referring to President Soeharto.

The meeting was scheduled to take place last night but so far, no more information was available.

Harmoko is in for tough competition from State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, who has also been named a Golkar candidate. Furthermore, Indonesia does not have a strong tradition of multiple vice presidential candidacy.

Except in 1988, the Assembly's five factions have always agreed to name only one candidate in the vice presidential elections since 1973. The United Development Party attempted to break the tradition when it nominated its chairman, Jaelani Naro, to challenge the then Golkar chairman Sudharmono in 1988. Naro threw in the towel on the eve of the election.

By convention, prior to the vice presidential election, each faction will seek approval of its candidate from the elected president.

The vice presidential election is one of the major agendas of the Assembly's General Session from March 1 to March 11.

Harmoko said he did not consider Habibie his contender and did not believe rumors that Habibie and the newly appointed Armed Forces commander, Gen. Wiranto, had coalesced to facilitate Habibie in the race.

Wiranto has said he would not be involved in Golkar's meeting because he was not yet formally installed as the new ABRI commander.

Wiranto will serve as the Army chief of staff until Feb. 16, when he will be sworn in as ABRI commander in place of Gen. Feisal Tanjung.

Chief of the Armed Forces faction in the MPR, Lt. Gen. Yunus Yosfiah, said the Armed Forces would try to settle any differences regarding the vice presidential nomination.

Yunus, the outgoing Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical affairs, refused to confirm whether ABRI would choose one of the two candidates proposed by Golkar.

Another Armed Forces representative in the MPR, Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, said the faction would not go out of its way to nominate a candidate with a military background.

"We'd rather choose a candidate for his or her capabilities," said Syarwan, also the Assembly's deputy speaker.

Chances

Golkar's treasurer, Bambang Trihatmodjo, said both Harmoko and Habibie stood an equal opportunity for the vice presidency.

However, he suggested that discourses on the vice presidency be delayed until a new president is elected.

Bambang, also chairman of the FKPPI, said the organization would not parrot other organizations which had announced support for certain individuals.

"We'll channel our aspiration to Golkar," he said.

Separately, Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, head of Golkar's council of experts Marwah Daud, and Golkar legislator Andi Mattalata said they favored Habibie to win the second-top post.

"He has a great chance," said Wardiman, known to be close to Habibie and a colleague in the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI). He refused further comment.

Marwah, also an ICMI member, praised Habibie for his commitment to democracy, national unity and human resources development.

"Don't worry, he won't discriminate against the minority if he is elected second in command. He loves the country very much," she said.

"Our future generation will feel regret if we fail to promote such a skillful person for the vice presidential post," she added.

Andi suggested Harmoko give way to Habibie, saying that the latter had already gained wide support from the public. (har/imn/amd)