Party defends Tutut's candidacy

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In response to earlier protests that Siti Hardiyanti "Tutut" Rukmana's presidential nomination was solely based on the desire to uphold New Order values, Chairman of the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB) R. Hartono claimed that her candidacy reflected the will of the people.

"There is no connection with the Cendana clique, no pressure and no directions from them. (Former president) Soeharto can do nothing and has difficulties to with communication," Antara quoted Hartono as saying on Tuesday.

Tutut is the daughter of Soeharto and the Cendana clique refers to the relatives of the Soeharto clan, which is based at Jl. Cendana in Menteng.

He said the nomination by PKPB of Tutut was based on the people's wishes and she was ready to be nominated simply because she wanted to contribute something to the nation.

He said previously that Tutut's nomination was on the explicit instructions of Soeharto. He also hit back at critics, calling them "anti-Pancasila" for urging people not to cast their votes for parties maintaining New Order's values

Pancasila is the 5-point state ideology embraced by Soeharto and the New Order for 32 years.

Hartono was known to be quite loyal to Soeharto during the latter's tenure and was quite close with Tutut when he was the Army's chief of staff in 1997.

Hartono however said that Tutut, Soeharto's eldest daughter, has yet to decide whether to accept the nomination or not.

He said he hoped his party would be one of the top-five after the legislative election on April 5.

"PKPB is ready to bargain with other parties to make a coalition in nominating a presidential candidate," he added.