PDI leaders cool over Megawati for presidency

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)