Soeharto the best candidate: Siswono

Soeharto the best candidate: Siswono

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo
has said there is no better candidate for the national presidency
than incumbent President Soeharto.

"There is no stronger candidate," the minister was quoted by
Antara as saying over the weekend. "But this does not mean that
there's no one else who can be president. People can nominate any
other person."

Soeharto is now serving his sixth term and many observers
believe that he will run for re-election in 1998, after the 1997
general election.

Speaking after delivering a speech at a seminar sponsored by
Kosgoro, an organization affiliated with the ruling political
grouping, Golkar, Siswono said that the progress achieved under
Soeharto's leadership during the past three decades set him apart
as the obvious choice for president.

"The achievement was made possible by, among other things, the
fact that this country has a capable and charismatic national
leader, who is consistent in upholding the Constitution," Siswono
said.

"This is not to hide the fact that Pak (Mr.) Harto is growing
older, so that some parties have expressed doubts (about his
ability) to hold the post in the future," Siswono said.

However, "as long as the President is still healthy and
willing to be re-elected, I don't think there's any problem," he
said.

Less than 10 days ago, the chairman of the Supreme Advisory
Council, Sudomo, said that, while Indonesia is not short of
capable candidates for the presidency, none can match the
qualities found in Soeharto.

The former close aide of the President said that Soeharto has
several qualities that are not found among any other potential
leaders. "Soeharto," Sudomo said, "has vision."

Soeharto is also responsive to developments, he said, "because
that is the way soldiers are trained -- to analyze and explore
before making a decision. And he has never been trapped by his
own decisions."

Rather, Soeharto, "along with his aides, has made sure that
the decisions have been put into practice," said the retired Navy
admiral, who was once chief of the powerful Kopkamtib security
agency.

Commenting on the open calls now being made by some
organizations for Soeharto to remain at the helm, Sudomo said
their demands are valid.

"It's a healthy sign of democracy. Anyone can speak out. Their
calls only become questionable if they have certain motives
behind their moves," he said.

Kosgoro chairman Soeprapto said the organization will
certainly nominate Soeharto. He justified the decision on the
ground that Soeharto had been a member of Kosgoro since 1957 and
will open the organization's congress next month.

Earlier this month, Gakari, the youth wing of Golkar, was the
first organization to publicly state that it would ask Soeharto
to allow himself to be nominated for the presidency again in
1998.

Gakari chairman Ais Anantama said his organization would
forward the proposal to Golkar.

"Let us agree that the national leadership remain in the hands
of the New Order administration under the leadership of President
Soeharto," said Ais, who is the son of former chief justice Ali
Said.

Gakari's move was later supported by more than a dozen of
other organizations, most of which also have links with Golkar.

Soeharto was re-elected in March 1993 for his sixth term by a
vote of acclamation from the 1,000-member People's Consultative
Assembly. He was the only candidate in the election, as he was in
1968, 1973, 1978, 1983 and 1988.

So far, only one other name has cropped up as potential
candidate for the presidency. Seven branches of the Christian-
nationalist alliance of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
recently said chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri should run in the
1998 presidential poll.

Megawati, the daughter of the late president Sukarno was
hailed by the PDI branches as a fighter for democracy who had
grass-roots support.

"She is simple, honest, non-materialistic and an uncomplicated
figure," said the branches' leaders in a statement.

Meanwhile, in his speech at Saturday's seminar, Siswono
identified a number of "strategic issues" -- including social
gaps and the relations between the Armed Forces, the bureaucracy
and Golkar -- that should be understood by the public.

"Social injustice is at the heart of all rebellions,
revolutions and dissent," he said. (swe)