Presidency-Amien-Megawati

Presidency-Amien-Megawati

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Five major Muslim-based political parties have reached a
consensus to block the reelection bid of incumbent President
Megawati Soekarnoputri in the 2004 elections, says National
Mandate Party (PAN) Chairman Amien Rais.

"I have met twice with them to gain such a consensus to
support their presidential candidates, who enter the second round
of the upcoming presidential election. Never allow Megawati to be
reelected," he was quoted by Antara as saying on Saturday in
Surakarta, Central Java.

"The point is to replace Megawati because if she comes forward
and wins again, I believe there will be no changes," Amien
argued.

He was speaking to journalists after addressing a seminar
titled "Seeking a Future Indonesian Leader" organized by the
Central Java branch of the Association of Islamic Boarding
Schools (RMI).

The five Muslim-based political groups in question are the
United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party
(PKB), the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the Prosperous Justice
Party (PKS), Amien said.

The two meetings were also attended by the Islamic Propagation
Council (DDI), a religious organization, he added.

"If there is one candidate from any of these parties, who
passes into the second round of the presidential election, we
will all support him. It's very fair. All (candidates) will
contest first and we will see the results," he asserted.

"I am sure there will be no split among us because it is not a
partnership but a consensus... It's just to switch the political
rhythm."

Amien, who is also the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
speaker, said that during her three-year administration,
Megawati's policies had failed to fight endemic corruption and
other serious problems such as unemployment, poor law enforcement
and poverty.

All those desiring reform in the crises-ridden country should
therefore unite to elect a new president, he added.

Amien, while addressing the seminar, said he believes that
there would be no single candidate able to garner more than 50
percent of votes during the first round of the presidential
election, scheduled for April 5, 2004.

For that reason, Muslims should unite to elect a presidential
candidate who meets the requirements as a national leader, he
said. The second round of the presidential election is set for
Sept. 20, 2004.

Amien said it was impossible to set up the "Central Axis" in
the 2004 elections as the next president and deputy or vice
president would no longer be elected by the MPR.

In the 1999 elections, he used the Central Axis, comprising
all Muslim-based parties including PPP, PKB, PBB, PAN and the
Justice Party (PK), to block Megawati's presidential bid.

The religious coalition, led by Amien, facilitated Abdurrahman
"Gus Dur" Wahid's nomination for president, despite his health
problems after suffering a stroke.

Less than two years later, Amien challenged Gus Dur's policies
in a move backed by the Golkar Party and Megawati's Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), and the Muslim-
bases parties except for the PKB.

Gus Dur was later ousted from office in July 2000 by the MPR,
which made Megawati, then vice president, the new president.

Now, Amien is trying to solicit support from the Islamic
parties to prevent Megawati from retaining her power in 2004.

He recently visited noted leaders of Islamic boarding schools
belonging to Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which was led by Gus Dur until
he was elected president.

Amien will contest the direct presidential election in 2004 to
challenge Megawati, Gus Dur, Vice President Hamzah Haz of PPP,
Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid and other candidates.

Despite rising sentiments against her style of governance,
surveys by a number of non-governmental organizations have showed
that Megawati has a better chance of reelection than other
presidential hopefuls.