PDI leaders cool over Megawati for presidency
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) called on its leaders yesterday not to nominate toppled leader Megawati Soekarnoputri for their presidential candidate as she is not represented in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Ismunandar, a deputy chairman of the government-backed PDI executive board, said in a Jakarta PDI branch meeting yesterday: "Don't you nominate a person who did not take part in the general election."
"Megawati is not represented in the MPR," he was quoted by Antara as saying.
Following a government-backed congress staged by dissenters in 1996, Megawati was ousted and replaced by former chairman Soerjadi. Because she was no longer recognized, she could not take part in last year's general election.
In January Megawati declared her intention to run in the presidential election next month. Supporters have cast her as a potential successor to incumbent President Soeharto, with Moslem leader Amien Rais as vice president.
Soerjadi has promised the party would indulge chapters wishing to name anyone, including Megawati, as presidential or vice presidential candidates.
Also yesterday, the PDI joined the other four factions -- Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP), the Armed Forces and the Regional Representatives, in rejecting calls to announce their presidential and vice presidential candidates as soon as possible in order to introduce political certainty and alleviate economic instability.
"We have not discussed (the subject) because we are still absorbing the aspirations of our chapters and branches," the news agency quoted Soerjadi as saying.
Addressing the West Java regional leadership meeting in Bandung, he said the party would disclose its presidential and vice presidential candidates in the Assembly next month.
Speaking about the vice presidential candidacy, Ismunandar said PDI had made an inventory of its possible candidates, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wiranto, Minister of Information R. Hartono, State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita, incumbent Try Sutrisno, State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie and former state minister of environment Emil Salim.
Separately yesterday, Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M., who supervises the Regional Representatives faction, said the faction had already decided its vice presidential candidates, but declined to disclose their names.
Speaking to reporters after a hearing with the House Commission II for political affairs, Yogie only said that the faction's candidates were not different from those already registered with the MPR.
The Armed Forces, PPP and Golkar factions have expressed their support for President Soeharto's renomination, but differed on when they would disclose their vice presidential candidates.
Both the Armed Forces and the PPP agreed to disclose their vice presidential candidates by the end of this month, while the dominant Golkar has yet to say when it would make its announcement.
MKGR, one of the seven mass organizations which merged to form Golkar in 1964, insisted yesterday that there had been no commitment among organizations affiliated to Golkar on the vice presidency.
"It's not wrong if factions within Golkar have different candidates," MKGR chairwoman Mien Sugandhi told reporters after a hearing with the House Commission VI for women's affairs yesterday.
"MKGR is, as are other political elements in Golkar, under Golkar's supervision but has autonomy in decision-making," she said.
She refuted an earlier statement by Suhardiman, the chairman of SOKSI, another Golkar's affiliate, that MKGR and SOKSI had reached an agreement with Kosgoro, a third Golkar member, on who they would propose for vice president.
Separately, former student activist Siswono Yudohusodo said yesterday the MPR should take the initiative to decide who it would name as vice presidential candidates instead of waiting for the newly elected president to take a decision.
"It's the MPR which has to decide on the vice presidency," he said, "Because, it's the body that sets the criteria for the vice presidency, including the ability to cooperate with the elected president." (imn/09)