Officials support Megawati, Amien for nomination

JAKARTA (JP): Two high-ranking officials responded positively yesterday to recent calls for the nomination of government critics Megawati Soekarnoputri and Amien Rais as the next president and vice president.

State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja was quoted by Antara as saying that the nomination was only "symbolic" in nature, as it was meant to show that people could nominate or be nominated. However, it also served as proof of an openness in Indonesian politics and democratization, he added.

Director General for Social and Political Affairs Maj. Gen. Achdari responded positively to calls for the nomination of Megawati and Amien by saying: "By all means, as long as it is done in accordance with the existing mechanism."

Megawati is the ousted chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and Amien is chairman of the 28-million-strong Muhammadiyah Moslem organization.

A group of prominent government critics, calling themselves the Group of Oct. 28, gathered earlier this week to urge the government to make urgent economic and political reforms.

They said fundamental reforms were the only answer to the monetary crisis which has gripped the country since July last year.

The group also hailed and supported calls for Amien Rais and Megawati to be nominated as presidential candidates. "We happily welcome the readiness of Amien Rais and Megawati Soekarnoputri to be nominated by the people and by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) as presidential (candidates) for the 1998/2003 period," the group said in a statement.

In an earlier gathering, Megawati declared her readiness to be nominated president for the 1998/2003 period, and called on incumbent President Soeharto to reject renomination for his seventh consecutive term. Support has been growing for her, and for Amien Rais.

The latter had not said outright he wanted to become president but was challenged by some people to say whether he would be willing to be elected, given that he had often called for presidential succession.

Sarwono said: "The call for nomination is a symbolic gesture, that is to prove that people can nominate or be nominated. But whether or not they can (become president or vice president), I don't think that's the intention.

"It shows there's progress in democratization here... You, too, could be nominated," he told a reporter. "It shows the public are mature enough to handle multiple candidates."

Sarwono also responded positively to the rare meeting between Megawati, Amien Rais and the Group of Oct. 28. "It's a good thing, and a breath of fresh air for public political education," he said.

The group was formed last Oct. 28 in Jakarta and led by Supeni, a senior politician and former leader of the now defunct Indonesian Nationalist Party which was one of four organizations merged to form the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) in 1973.

Achdari said he was confident the group would not pose any threat toward the planned general session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) from March 1 to March 11, where a new president and vice president will be elected and the state guidelines will be adopted.

"The group is not a threat. So far, there are no threatening groups," he said yesterday. "If they wish to hold a gathering, discussion, voice their aspirations, they can do so, by all means, as long as they do not violate any laws."

"So far, the government has not detected anything serious from their presence, but the government will remain watchful about possible problems," he said.

"But if they seek to disrupt domestic political stability... the government will not take even the smallest risk," he said. (swe)