Soeharto hints at readiness for another term

Soeharto hints at readiness for another term

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has indicated that he might
be ready to be reelected for another presidential term next year,
a senior government official said.

The hint was given by Soeharto on Wednesday to Alwi Dahlan,
head of the State Agency for Propagation of State Ideology
Pancasila (BP7), after a meeting between them at Soeharto's
residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.

"I am a fighter, and when a fighter is given a task, he will
not flee, and will not be scared," Soeharto was quoted as saying
by Alwi.

This is the first admission of willingness to be reelected by
Soeharto since October last year when he told the ruling Golkar
to reconsider his renomination for the 1998/2003 presidential
term.

At a Golkar function at that time, Soeharto also said he was
ready to play the pundit should he not be reelected.

Alwi said Wednesday that Soeharto regretted that some people
mistakenly thought economic reform had to be followed by
political reform.

Alwi quickly added that Soeharto did not explicitly say
anything about being ready to lead the nation into the third
millennium.

"It was not discussed. But he pointed out that as a fighter he
would not turn away if he was assigned to a task," he said when
asked whether they discussed Soeharto's daughter's comment about
her father's possible retirement.

Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, better known as Mbak Tutut, said
earlier last month that she and her brothers and sisters would
prefer it if their father was not reelected for a seventh term in
office next March, because then he would have less time for his
family.

The 1,000-member People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will
convene in March to elect a president and vice president.
Soeharto's reelection is widely expected.

However, public concern over the health of the 76-year-old
President grew when doctors ordered him to rest for about 10 days
last month following a long overseas trip.

Analysts predict that the economic crisis will continue as
long as foreign investors feel the question of national
leadership succession is unanswered.

"There are comments that say the ongoing economic or monetary
upheavals are related to recent political developments ... in
facing the next general assembly," Soeharto said.

The President also stressed that he would not influence the
MPR's selection of candidates for the vice presidential post.

"The President said the MPR has the right to collect names and
check public opinion. He will not interfere in the election
process," said Alwi.

MPR has 13 vice presidential candidates registered.

Six of them have a military background, including incumbent
Vice President Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno; Minister of Information
Gen. (ret) R. Hartono; State Minister of National Development
Planning Vice Marshal (ret) Ginandjar Kartasasmita; Armed Forces
Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung; and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wiranto.

Born on July 7, 1948, Wiranto is the youngest of these six
candidates. His career skyrocketed after serving as Soeharto's
adjutant from 1989 to 1993. He served as Jakarta military
commander before becoming chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves
Command last year, a position he held until his appointment in
June to replace Hartono.

"The President trusts Wiranto's loyalty and capability," a
senior palace official recently said. (prb)