More students reject Soeharto's renomination

More students reject Soeharto's renomination

JAKARTA (JP): A delegation of students delivered a petition to
the People's Consultative Assembly yesterday, suggesting the body
not renominate President Soeharto to another five-year term.

The 20 students, representing 200 others on behalf of the
Communication Forum of Jakarta Youths and Students, told the
chief of the United Development Party (PPP) faction in the
Assembly, Jusuf Syakir, that renominating Soeharto would
discourage others with the potential to lead the country.

"For no less than 30 years Pak Soeharto has been forced to
lead the nation because people didn't have the guts to (find new
leaders)," said Edwin Partogi who led the delegation.

"The absence of (succession of national leadership) reveals
the nation's heavy dependence on President Soeharto. It's as if
we cannot do anything right without him," he added.

It was the second group of students to reject Soeharto's
renomination after a petition filed by 15 representatives of the
Association of Indonesian Law Students Council last week.

Edwin said yesterday he was afraid the lack of courage would
cause people to turn Soeharto into a cult figure.

Soeharto, whose reelection is almost certain due to dominant
faction Golkar's full support, has rejected the idea of being
turned into a cult figure.

He caught people by surprise when he addressed Golkar's 33rd
anniversary celebration on Oct. 19 with a request to the dominant
party to reconsider its support for his renomination, saying that
he did not want to hamper leadership succession.

Edwin praised Soeharto's leadership that propelled the
development program to success, but regretted the lack of room
for leadership succession.

Various organizations have thrown their weight behind
Soeharto's reelection long before Golkar's announcement. If
elected, Soeharto will serve his seventh term.

The Assembly, in which Golkar and its traditional allies the
Armed Forces and the regional representatives factions occupy 850
out of 1,000 seats, will convene next March to elect a president
and vice president for the 1998/2003 period.

Irfan Gani, who represented Islamic students of Bandung in
West Java, said Soeharto was too old to bear the heavy burdens of
leading the nation. He also said that the President should retire
and enjoy his old age.

"It's a sin if we let him (Soeharto) lead the country
(again) ...we'd better place him in a respected place for a
person whose time has come to enjoy his retirement," Irfan said.

He said the 30-year development program under Soeharto had
brought about admirable economic growth and political stability.

However, the students suggested succession of national
leadership, saying that it would boost democratization in the
country.

Responding to the students' motion, Jusuf Syakir said he would
forward the petition to the Assembly.

Democracy

The Assembly failed yesterday to agree on a draft of Pancasila
democracy sponsored by the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and
another draft of amendment on election rules jointly supported by
PDI and PPP.

The two minority factions insisted that the Assembly decree on
general elections needs to be reviewed, or there would not be any
fair polls in the future.

They demanded political parties contesting the elections play
a bigger role in the planning, implementation and supervision of
the polls.

Wiranto, who chairs the session, said the Assembly ad hoc
committee in charge of nonstate policy guidelines adjourned the
session pending an internal consultative meeting by leaders of
the two factions.

The country's political institutions traditionally avoid
voting in their decision-making processes, although the 1945
Constitution allows such a procedure to take place. (amd)