No need to organized rallies for presidential candidacy: Legislator

JAKARTA (JP): A legislator criticized groups yesterday who had already called for President Soeharto's reelection for the 1998 to 2003 term, labeling the moves as attempts to curry favor with the head of state.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Forces faction Suparman Achmad also accused those who organized such calls of only seeking popularity.

"We no longer need to organize rallies for support (especially if they are meant to justify) demands for rewards after the president is elected," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Suparman also targeted groups who organized political prayers, or gatherings to pray for Soeharto's reelection.

Public calls for Soeharto's renomination are becoming more and more regular. One of the most recent took place last week when the Sulawesi Community for Harmony announced that it would ask the People's Consultative Assembly to reelect the 75-year-old President.

If reelected next year, Soeharto will serve his sixth five- year term.

The consultative assembly comprises all 500 members of the House of Representatives and 500 representatives of various groups, professions and regions.

The Aceh community, whose leaders include Minister of Food Ibrahim Hasan and his predecessor Bustanil Arifin, gathered here over the weekend to pray for Soeharto.

Suparman said that all nominations of presidential and vice presidential candidates should be made during the general assembly of the People's Consultative Assembly in March next year.

Suparman denied that discussion on possible vice president nominees had received wider coverage than that on the president.

"People pay equal attention to both presidential and vice presidential candidates, because they cannot be separated in the state's administration," said Suparman.

Nobody had ever challenged Soeharto for the presidency until Sri Bintang Pamungkas, chairman of the unrecognized Indonesian Democratic Union Party, nominated himself last year.

Bintang is currently being questioned for subversion by the Attorney General Office.

Suparman also branded as unethical the nomination of vice presidential nominees by a number of politicians recently.

Former chairman of the United Development Party Jaelani Naro was the first to raise the issue. He said there should be more than one vice presidential candidate when the consultative assembly convenes.

"We'd better pay more attention on how to calm ourselves so that the upcoming general election can run smoothly," Suparman said.

During the 1988 assembly, Naro challenged the then chairman of dominant political group Golkar, Sudharmono, for the vice presidency. Only after mounting pressure for a unanimous vote did Naro withdraw and leave the field open for Sudharmono. (amd)