Presidential election rules 'need changing'

Presidential election rules 'need changing'

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Changes in the presidential election rules
are needed to accommodate extra-parliamentary nomination, a
political expert said here yesterday.

Ichlasul Amal of Gadjah Mada University said the present rules
disregarded the fact that people may want different nominees from
those supported by factions in the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR).

"A new tradition, which allows people to campaign for their
own candidates, should be initiated. Factions should no longer be
the only party (authorized) to make a decision, judging by the
latest situation," Ichlasul said.

He was commenting on the presidential nomination of
Muhammadiyah Moslem organization leader Amien Rais by various
groups. Amien, also a lecturer at the university, is collecting
signatures of one million supporters to convince the Assembly to
nominate him.

The 1,000-strong Assembly will elect a president and vice
president in March. A 1973 decree set up by the Assembly gives
each of its five factions the authority to nominate a
presidential candidate.

All but one faction have renominated incumbent President
Soeharto for another five-year term.

Ichlasul said the political organizations contesting the
general election should have unveiled their respective
presidential and vice presidential candidates during the election
rallies.

"The nomination of national leaders has been decided behind
closed doors to make it difficult for people to judge the
candidates," said Ichlasul.

Another observer, Cornelis Lay, said that Amien's bid to gain
massive public support represented the mounting demand for
people's participation in the political decision making process.

However, he said he was afraid the move would trigger a
retaliation from the government and would only split the people
into two sides.

In Jakarta, non-governmental organization Pijar Foundation
proposed yesterday a cabinet lineup which they claimed would lead
the country to a better future.

In a rally staged at the House of Representatives, 100
activists of the foundation nominated deposed chairperson of the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri the
republic's new president and Amien the vice president.

It was the latest demonstration demanding leadership
succession after a series of rallies last week, with people
calling for a new president as the key to overcoming the present
economic crisis.

"We urge legislators not to reelect President Soeharto. We
insist that you nominate and choose Megawati Soekarnoputri as the
new president and Amien Rais the vice president," said Pijar in a
statement read by executive chairman B.Y. Widyankristyoko.

The group called the Megawati-led administration the
transitional government which will be in power from 1998 to 2000.

To help the two national leaders, Pijar named 28 figures
ranging from intellectuals to soothsayers for cabinet seats and
other top positions in or outside the government.

Included in the cabinet were jailed government critic Sri
Bintang Pamungkas as minister of trade and industry, jailed
unionist Muhtar Pakpahan as minister of labor affairs, political
scientist Juwono Sudarsono as minister of defense, mass
communications expert Jalaluddin Rakhmat as minister of
information, businessman Aburizal Bakrie as minister of
investment and economic expert Sjahrir as minister of finance.

Among the noted figures nominated for other posts were
chairman of the 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem
organization Abdurrahman Wahid as Speaker of the People's
Consultative Assembly, and Surakarta, Central Java chief of the
United Development Party Moedrick Sangidoe for House Speaker.

The activists also named former judge Adi Andojo Soetjipto
for Chief Justice, incumbent Vice President Try Sutrisno for
chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, soothsayer Permadi for
Attorney General and banking expert Laksamana Sukardi for Central
Bank governor. (23/amd)