Next president should be 'young civilian': Soemitro

JAKARTA (JP): Gen. (ret.) Soemitro, a former chief of the defunct internal security agency, wants to see Indonesia have a new "young civilian" president in 1998.

Speaking on Saturday at a seminar on the military's role in national politics, Soemitro said that it was high time the 1945 generation quit politics and made way for the younger generation.

"Give way at the political forefront to the country's best young, bright people to face the 21st century," he said during the seminar organized by local political correspondents' club.

The 1945 generation refers to the political elite involved in the struggle for independence that Indonesia proclaimed on Aug. 17. President Soeharto, a former army general, is a member.

Soemitro noted that "more than 80 percent" of the key positions in the bureaucracy and the legislative council between 1983 and 1988 went to figures belonging to the 1945 generation.

The seminar, that also featured military analyst Indria Samego, discussed the relevance of the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) in the current political climate.

Soemitro said a younger civilian president would facilitate communication between the government and his/her aides -- and thus promote greater openness.

"You can't expect good communication if the age gap between the president and his aides is so wide," said Soemitro, now known as a political observer and a businessman.

Soemitro was interpreting Soeharto's statement of last Wednesday when the president reminded the public that he would turn 77 shortly after the 1998 presidential election.

Soeharto made the comment during a ceremony proclaiming May 29 as National Day for the Elderly in Demak, Central Java.

"The most important thing for me is to complete my term until 1998. What happens after that is up to the People's Consultative Assembly," Soeharto said.

He was responding to a request by an 80-year old participant, urging him to run for election after his current term ends in 1998.

"But you should know that I'll be 77 then, and that is old. I'll be elderly," he said.

Elderly people are defined in Indonesia those as over 60. The official retirement age from the civil service and many private companies is 55.

"President Soeharto's statement implied he would like to give a younger person the opportunity to lead this country," Soemitro said.

He added, however, that the President is not always predictable. Soemitro recalled the 1977 general election when Soeharto hinted he was willing to step down.

"Soeharto said that he was willing to withdraw from the nomination if there was more than one nominee in the presidential race," he said.

Soemitro said he would like to see a civilian at the helm because a civilian would probably have a better vision to develop Indonesia to face the challenges of the 21st century.

"Armed forces members are already very busy dealing with security affairs and have little time to expand their vision, especially in dealing with global issues," he said.

Soemitro said he was happy to hear President Soeharto acknowledge that the prerogative who to elect as president lies with the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

The 1,000 member MPR, the country's highest law-making body, is currently dominated by politicians affiliated to the ruling Golkar group.

It will convene in 1998 to elect a new president and to adopt the 1998-2003 state policy guidelines, as well as review laws proposed by the three recognized political parties.

Regarding the armed forces dual role in both defense and politics, known as dwi fungsi, Soemitro said its philosophy is "good" but its implementation is poor.

"We've frequently heard that our country is stable and secure. Yet, it maintains rules and regulations which are the product of the emergency period, during the early years of our independence," he said.

"Such laws and regulations should be revoked or at least be reviewed," he added.

He, however, said that the implementation of the dual function should be reviewed at every election.

Meanwhile, Indria said that all armed forces members are acceptable for any governmental position, including regent and a gubernatorial posts, as long as they adhere to rules and regulations of the government institutions.

"A regent with a military background has to comply with the governor, not his superiors in the armed forces," he said.(imn)