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.