Soeharto-Habibie duo in next month's elections

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie has a clear run-in to the vice presidential elections, now that his main rivals have bowed out.

The People's Consultative Assembly compiled, at the request of various groups, a list of 14 leading figures whom it viewed as potential vice-presidential contenders, during its three-month session which concluded last month.

Among those listed alongside Habibie were incumbent Vice President Try Sutrisno, House Speaker Harmoko, State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Information R. Hartono, former Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung and his successor Gen. Wiranto.

The leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Soerjadi, revealed yesterday that Habibie had been the only candidate, from seven public figures named by his party, to accept nomination for the second top post.

Top PDI executives, including Soerjadi, met Habibie in his office at the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) on Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, Sunday.

"He (Habibie) thanks us for our trust in him and pledges to do his best in all the jobs demanded by the Constitution, if he is elected", Soerjadi said after naming Habibie as the party's sole candidate for the vice presidency.

The minority party named Try, Habibie, Hartono, Ginandjar, Feisal, Wiranto and Soerjadi as potential candidates following a leadership meeting in Bogor, West Java, last week. Support for the incumbent President Soeharto's renomination was also confirmed during the same meeting.

Good

Soerjadi said the other candidates had opted out of the contest for various reasons.

"Pak Try thinks that the tradition of having a vice president in office for a single five-year term is good. He wants to maintain that tradition," Soerjadi said following a meeting with Try at the Vice Presidential Palace yesterday.

President Soeharto has had a different vice president in each of his last five terms. His running mates have been Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX and Adam Malik (both deceased), Umar Wirahadikusumah, Sudharmono and Try.

However, Soerjadi refused to give details when questioned on the other candidates' motives for refusing the nomination.

"One says he wants to concentrate on his new post, while another says he is already busy with his present jobs," Soerjadi said.

Separately, newly installed Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto said he refused to stand for the vice presidency because he did not want to neglect the trust vested in him in his new post.

Former student activist Djusril Djusan, who chairs the Association of Members of the 1966 Student Movement (IKBLARH), a loose collection of former student activists who opposed communism and former president Sukarno's administration, told reporters after meeting with Wiranto yesterday that the new Armed Forces Commander wished to focus on maintaining order during the General Session of the Assembly next month.

"Please, give me the opportunity to carry out my new duty," Wiranto was quoted by Djusril as saying.

Djusril met Wiranto to discuss public participation in securing the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, scheduled for Mar. 1 to Mar. 11. The 1,000-member Assembly will endorse the state policy guidelines and elect a president and vice president during the five-yearly session.

Asked whether Wiranto's statement was a signal to smooth the way for Habibie, Djusril said: "There was not any discussion of that".

Ginandjar threw in the towel last week, saying he did not fit the bill and that his position as chairman of the Golkar faction in the Assembly would cause a conflict of interest. (byg/amd)