Presidential term of office

Presidential term of office

On page one of The Jakarta Post dated Aug. 22 I read with
interest a report about a statement made by Minister of
Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo, under the title Limit
presidential term after Soeharto.

If the title read "Limit presidential term," I would not have
written this letter. But the addition "after Soeharto" compelled
me to write.

I cannot understand why a constitution like the one we have
should depend on a person or a group of people. The constitution
is the highest form of law and regulation and should not be
dependent on a person or on a group of people.

Undoubtedly, we all agree Soeharto is a great statesman and
has brought tremendous changes to our country. When we look back
to 1966 and see where we are now, we must honestly admit that
Indonesia has become a power to be reckoned with, not only
regionally but, in my opinion, also internationally. Because of
what he has done for Indonesia, the people have reelected him
again and again and that is not his fault.

The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has the right to
choose anyone it thinks is fit to lead our country, so if
Soeharto is elected again, it is in accordance with the
constitution.

The constitution clearly stipulates that the president and
vice president hold office for five years and after that they can
be reelected. There is no mention of the president and vice
president serving only two terms in office.

The MPR, which is all powerful, comprises representatives of
political organizations and the functional group Golkar, as well
as representatives from the armed forces and all regions. It is
the MPR that is responsible for who is elected as president and
vice president.

If we want to see the presidential term limited to two terms
of office, we must revise the Constitution first and not give the
privilege to a certain person or group of people.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta