PAN names Amien presidential candidate

BANDUNG (JP): The National Mandate Party (PAN) officially nominated its chairman Amien Rais its presidential candidate on Friday, and vowed at the end of its congress here to win up to 35 percent of the vote in the general election next June.

Amien told a media briefing: "With all humbleness and a sense of responsibility...Insya Allah (God willing), I accept the nomination."

When asked for comment over the possibility of President B.J. Habibie seeking another term, Amien said it was the President's prerogative.

"If he wants to seek the presidency again and run, it would be difficult for us to avoid that situation. But he would have to be ready to compete with other candidates including myself, Megawati (Soekarnoputri)..." he said.

However, "I suggest that he does not run, because he's a mere extension of (former president) Soeharto. He should not (involve himself) in developing the future, because we're going to need something really new for the future," he said.

Amien said that if he were elected president, he would prioritize the implementation of two tenets of the state ideology Pancasila, namely "a just and civilized humanity" and "social justice for all."

He also promised to develop and nurture democracy, and hold on to some universal principles, including one that ensures that the masses control their leaders. "My second principle would be freedom of speech, freedom of faith, freedom from (want of) basic needs, and freedom from fear," he said.

The three-day congress was attended by 500 party executives from all 27 chapters and more than 300 branches across Indonesia. Most of its sessions were closed to the press, and participants discussed, among other things, strategies to win the poll.

The party also issued a political statement on, among other things, the campaign for reform. The party warned against "antireform" forces which were still solid.

"They are still working to obstruct the goals and direction of the reform movement," Amien said, but did not elaborate.

Amien was accompanied by party officials including secretary- general Faisal Basri, deputy chairmen Abdillah Thoha and A.M. Fatwa, and advisors Taufik Abdullah and Maj. Gen. (ret) Soewarno Adiwidjojo.

Abdillah Thoha said the party's priority now was to make the elections a success. "After that, we'll see whether there are other parties with similar vision, with whom we can form a coalition to bring Pak Amien to the presidency," he said.

In Jakarta, commenting on Amien's nomination, chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) Hamzah Haz said it was "normal" for any political party to nominate their leader for president.

However, he pointed out that many difficulties lay ahead as the elections would be contested by many political parties.

"Let's just wait and see the results of the upcoming elections," he told journalists after chairing a plenary session of the PPP House of Representatives faction.

Although more than 100 parties have been established since May, the government has predicted -- due to stringent requirements the parties will have to meet -- that only 30 parties will make the ballot paper.

So, Hamzah said: "We don't even know how many percent (of the votes) our party is going to get... but one thing is for sure, that there'll be no single party that can win 60 percent (required for a party to make its chairman president)."

"So this means there'll be a coalition... and no party can go it alone in the campaign for its candidate," he said.

Hamzah also said that as a political party chairman he would be ready to be nominated a president.

"But, please let's not become takabur," he said, referring to an Arabic term for arrogant. (43/aan)