President Soeharto urged to lead national dialog

JAKARTA (JP): An independence war veteran suggested over the weekend that President Soeharto lead a national dialog on state matters.

"Pak Harto is the appropriate person for the job ... he should be the one to initiate a national dialog," said Maj. Gen. (ret) Pamoe Rahardjo, chairman of Pembela Tanah Air Foundation, an organization of former independence fighters, in a discussion here Saturday.

Pamoe cited several reasons for holding the national dialog, including what he called violations of the principles of the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

"For instance, the House of Representatives has not represented Indonesians. Instead, the legislative body represents only certain groups in society," he said.

The call for a national dialog was first made last month by political observer Amien Rais. It has gained momentum, and debate rages on whether there is a need for one.

Proponents say national issues of state leadership succession, the empowerment of the House and human rights protection merit a national dialog.

Opponents, however, say there is no need for a national dialog on succession as there is already a proper forum for that, namely the general assembly of the People's Consultative Assembly next March.

Chairman of the ruling Golkar faction Harmoko is among those who believe that a dialog is unnecessary, but the number of supporters urging a dialog is growing.

On Saturday, the ousted chief of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, and Dahlan Ranuwihardjo, another Pembela Tanah Air Foundation member, affirmed the need for a dialog.

Dahlan said it was impossible to settle all state problems without the people's participation.

"Be realistic. There is no single group that can settle all national problems single-handedly," Dahlan said.

"Golkar cannot settle all the problems alone," he added.

Megawati said the idea of holding a dialog was brilliant, but not without problems.

"Who is supposed to take responsibility and who will participate?" she asked.

Dahlan said the entire country -- state leaders and figures, the Armed Forces and the general public -- should be involved.

"And we would be very pleased if Soeharto could take part in the dialog," he said.

Poll

Separately in Semarang, People's Consultative Assembly member Muladi lashed out at a proposal to hold a poll on presidential candidates for the 1998/2003 period.

Muladi, also rector of state-run Diponegoro University and member of the National Commission on Human Rights, called the plan unconstitutional because according to the 1945 Constitution, the president and vice president were elected by the Assembly every five years.

"A poll, even though it might be supportive for incumbent President Soeharto, would only lead to the country's disintegration," Muladi said after a graduation ceremony at the university on Saturday.

Amien Rais called for the poll last week in response to Soeharto's request that Golkar cadres reconsider their support for his reelection,

Muladi said Indonesian people should stick to the Constitution, not only because it was a legal document, but also a statement of ideas of the country's founding fathers which was worth preserving.

"A democratic society always respects its constitution," he said.

Instead he suggested an improvement to the recruitment process of legislative bodies to make them more responsive to public aspirations, including in presidential matters.

Another observer, Soehardjo, threw his weight behind the poll, because it would only reveal public choices. "Such a practice is very common in democratic countries. Let it go ahead, but the final say of who the president will be will come from the Assembly," Soehardjo said.

The 1,000-strong Assembly will elect a president in March. (imn/har/amd)