Indonesian presidency not men-only club: Observers

Indonesian presidency not men-only club: Observers

JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Golkar and United Development
party factions expressed opposition on Tuesday to the idea that
only men were fit to serve as the country's president.

Golkar faction member Dewi Fortuna Anwar, also a spokeswoman
for President B.J. Habibie under Minister/State Secretary Akbar
Tandjung, said she "would be the first person to demonstrate" if
a law or fatwa (guidance) from the Indonesian Ulemas Council
ruled that the presidency was exclusive to men.

Dewi was responding to an unofficial decision of the
Indonesian Moslem Congress which has attracted both criticism and
support.

It is particularly sensitive because of the prominence of
Megawati Soekarnoputri, the eldest daughter of the country's
first president and the head of a faction of the splintered
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

"We know that Indonesia has ratified the United Nations
Convention Against All Forms of Discrimination," Dewi, a
political researcher, was quoted by Antara as saying.

"If we ruled that the president should be male, Javanese and
Moslem, we would violate our own Constitution and the
Convention," she said, adding that "discriminative" requirements
for the presidency would be "antidemocratic".

President B.J. Habibie's ascension to the presidency shook a
long-held belief among Indonesians that the country's president
must be a Moslem, an Army general and Javanese. Although Moslem,
Habibie is a civilian and a native of South Sulawesi.

"If someone fails to be elected because she is female and not
a Moslem, that would be political reality. But it should not
become a legal basis," Dewi said.

Ali Yafie, the head of the Indonesian Ulemas Council which
sponsored the congress from Nov. 3 to Nov. 7, has said the
proposal was not included in its 11-point declaration due to the
diverse views among the congress participants.

The issue drew a widespread response, among them from Moslem
scholars on interpretations of religious teachings.

Dewi added that all components of the nation "should open the
widest possible equal opportunity to all prospective (citizens)"
interested in running for the presidency.

Antara also quoted the secretary of the United Development
Party (PPP) faction, Endin A.J.Soefihara, as saying that it was
his "personal opinion" that anyone should be allowed to become
president.

On Monday, 12 non-governmental organizations also voiced
rejection of the proposal.

A statement signed by 18 women activists cited Article 27 of
the Constitution which rules that each citizen has equal status
before the law and the government.

"Discrimination, based on sex, religion, race or ethnicity,
would pose a potential problem for integration and democracy in
Indonesia," the statement said.

Self-declared presidential candidate Amien Rais has said a
woman could serve as president in the event no suitable male
candidates were available.

Islamic women's group 'Aisyiah has requested that the
Indonesian Ulemas Council issue a religious guidance to decide
the issue. (prb/anr)