'Soeharto unlikely to face contender in 1998 election'

SEMARANG (JP): A nod from President Soeharto is all it will take to settle the presidential election in 1998, noted political scholar Riswandha Imawan said yesterday.

Soeharto has the qualifications no other candidate has to run for president, even if it means staying in office for a seventh consecutive five year term, said the staff lecturer at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.

"Soeharto has proven able to control the two major political forces in the country, Golkar and the Armed Forces," Riswandha said, quoting American political observer R. William Liddle.

Adding to his legitimacy, Soeharto has successfully accommodated the interests of Moslems, who comprise the bulk of the Indonesian population, he said.

All these successes have impressed many youth organizations. They openly stand behind 74-year-old Soeharto's run for office in 1998, he added.

"Pak Soeharto has been successful in leading this nation," he insisted.

Riswandha pointed out the growing number of youth organizations which have announced their support for Soeharto's reelection. They urged the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to reelect the President in 1998.

Soeharto has been elected by the MPR six times since 1968. He had no opposition each time. All the 1,000 MPR members had to do was ask him to stay at the helm.

According to Riswandha, Soeharto -- who chairs Golkar's board of patrons -- has built a strong political structure which allows for economic and political development.

Gm Gakari was the first youth organization to publicly announce its desire for Soeharto's reelection. It is the youth wing of the ruling Golkar faction and is chaired by Ais Anantama Said who also heads Golkar's arts and culture department.

At least 16 mass organizations, most affiliated to Golkar, have publicly pledged to maintain Soeharto as leader. They are: Gakari, AMPI, AMII, Fokusmaker, FKPPI, Kosgoro, Gema Kosgoro, Gema MKGR, GPPI, GM PPA 45, Gema Budhi, IPTI, Macanpas, Pemuda Pancasila, Pemuda Pancamarga and Wira Karya Indonesia.

Critics suggest that the move is politically improper because the election of a president is the right of the MPR, which will only convene in 1998.

Separately, State Minister for Public Housing Akbar Tanjung defended the organizations that have announced their wish for Soeharto's reelection.

"One of the organization's functions is to accommodate and channel the wishes of their members. So it's natural for them to make public their stand," he said.

Akbar, a student leader in the 1960s who helped usher in the Soeharto's New Order administration, said that organizations are free to channel their aspirations to institutions like the MPR.

"Whether these institutions will accept or reject the proposal, it is something else," he said. (har/pan)