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)