JP/4/4GOLKAR

Two generals take different political courses

The Jakarta Post Jakarta

Two retired Indonesian Military (TNI) generals took different political courses on Wednesday, with one eying the presidency and the other quitting the race.

Former TNI chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto, a controversial military strongman with a questioned human rights record, submitted his application to become the presidential candidate for the Golkar party, the country's second largest, on Wednesday, while current Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar, a four-star Army general (ret), decided against running for the Golkar vacancy.

Both had picked up registration forms from the committee organizing the Golkar convention, claiming their supporters had encouraged them to contest the election.

Thursday is the deadline for all presidential aspirants from Golkar to return their registration forms.

At least 12 presidential hopefuls had submitted their bids by Wednesday. Aside from Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla and Yogjakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X had also returned the forms.

Party chairman Akbar Tandjung, who was sentenced to three years in jail for corruption, is yet to submit his bid, while another strong candidate, Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid, has backed off, citing differences of principles and money politics.

Wiranto said Wednesday that he had decided to join the race on the back of the failure of the current regime to live up to people's expectations.

"Five years after the reforms started, elements of the nation are still unable to ensure justice and safety, and improve people's welfare," said Wiranto.

"The presidential post is a strategic position, because as president one will be able to help overcome those problems. In this light, I am preparing myself to be Indonesia's sixth president in 2004," said Wiranto without giving any hint as to how he would address the issues.

Separately, Agum, who is also chairman of the Alumni of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas), said his daily routines had prevented him from pursuing his presidential ambition.

Agum is also chairman of the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) and head of the National Sports Commission (KONI).

Agum's withdrawal from the race came only hours after Wiranto confirmed his participation in the convention.

The Golkar chairman and Wiranto, who still holds significant influence in the military, are the two leading candidates for Golkar's presidential nominees.

Despite the fact that both Wiranto and Akbar have wide support from Golkar's grass roots, the outcome of the presidential convention is still difficult to predict.

Both Wiranto and Akbar have been dogged by two separate problems, which may spoil their chances of grabbing the candidacy.

Wiranto has been accused of being responsible for the violence and murders in East Timor following the ballot in 1999 that gave independence to the tiny territory.

Akbar, on the other hand, has been sentenced to three years in jail for his role in stealing Rp 40 billion that had been earmarked to feed Indonesia's poorest citizens. He is free pending appeal.

Although the Presidential Election Law permits those with a maximum five-year sentence to run, the verdict is actually a political hindrance for Akbar's presidential bid.

Golkar has a reputation of being the political bandwagon of former president Soeharto's 32-year authoritarian and corrupt New Order regime.