Soeharto 'should accept renomination'

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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