Soeharto 'should accept renomination'

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto should accept his renomination for another term of office to help ensure a safe and smooth national leadership succession, according to a political observer.

"For the sake of a smooth succession, it would be better if President Soeharto agree to being renominated," former home affairs minister Rudini said here yesterday. "We are hoping that he accepts. It will help guarantee a smooth presidential succession."

Rudini, now chairman of the Institute for Strategic Studies of Indonesia, an informal military think tank, however, also suggested Soeharto step down before the next five-year term is over.

"President Soeharto should hand over the national leadership to the vice president after he concludes the second year of office," he added.

Such steps, he said, will prepare the vice president for the national leadership.

It is necessary for Indonesia to hold a careful vice presidential nomination as they would have to be prepared for eventual promotion to the country's number one position, he said.

He added he was sure that Soeharto still has the support of at least 70 percent of Indonesia's 200 million population, especially those living in villages.

Rudini was commenting on a recent statement by Soeharto that people wanting to nominate him should consider his age. On Tuesday, Soeharto told a delegation of the Indonesian National Youth Committee that next year, when the People's Consultative Assembly convenes to elect a president and vice president, he will be 77.

"Am I really capable? Also take into account that there must be many people who want to become president," Soeharto said.

He had also cautioned that the various appeals for him to stay at the helm may create an impression that his nomination was rigged to preserve the political status quo, and that he was to become president for life.

If re-elected by the general assembly of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in March next year, Soeharto will enter his fifth consecutive term of presidency.

Separately, political observer Juwono Sudarsono dismissed speculation that Soeharto's statement meant he was rejecting his renomination.

"He was actually asking whether there were any other eligible persons to replace him. His statement shows his class as a statesman," he told reporters in his office yesterday.

He said that replacing a president who has governed a country for 30 years was not an easy task.

Juwono, who is also deputy governor of the National Resilience Institute, a military think tank, said there was a possibility that Soeharto would eventually agree to being renominated.

Challenges

Juwono said Indonesia's next president would face greater challenges than Soeharto, particularly because that person could not have as great a charisma as Soeharto has.

This was why the third president should be carefully prepared from now, he said.

Juwono said the vice presidential post is very important, because, at Soeharto's age, the position is more strategic.

On another occasion, State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman said Soeharto has an outstanding health record which will enable him to stay in office for another five- year term.

"Compared to most people his age, he... manages to maintain his physical fitness. I think he will remain fit in the next five years," Hayono said after a meeting with House Speaker Wahono at the House of Representatives yesterday.

Hayono also hailed Soeharto for gracefully heeding younger people's demands for change.

"Usually, the older a man is, the more conservative he becomes. But he (Soeharto) is different... he himself sometimes initiates changes," said Hayono.

Health expert and noted acupuncturist Hembing Wijayakusuma supported Hayono's opinion about Soeharto's health.

"In my opinion, at the age of 77 it should not be an obstacle for a person to lead this country," he told Antara yesterday.

"It is not always true that a person in his late seventies should have lost his physical abilities," he said.

A person's health, no matter what his age is, mainly depends on his lifestyle, diet and outlook in life.

A number of professional groups, mass organizations and individuals have raised their support for Soeharto's renomination for the 1998-2003 presidential term.

So far, only the unrecognized Indonesian Democratic Union Party (PUDI), led by sacked legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas, has openly asked for Soeharto's resignation. (imn/amd)

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