Soeharto's renomination gets mixed responses

JAKARTA (JP): The minority Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) welcomed yesterday President Soeharto's acceptance of his nomination for another term by the ruling Golkar, while fellow minority United Development Party cautiously deferred its comments.

Fatimah Achmad, deputy chair of PDI, said Soeharto's clear stance was needed in this time of economic volatility.

"President Soeharto's readiness is needed in such an unfavorable condition," said Fatimah, who is also Deputy House Speaker, as quoted by Antara. "At least now, the people and the international society already know the presidential candidate."

PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum separately said that Soeharto's decision was in response to Golkar's nomination only. The President had yet to tell the other political parties his stance, he pointed out.

Soeharto's decision meant that Golkar had settled its internal problems, Ismail said.

"PPP will declare its presidential and vice presidential candidates at the end of next month," he said.

The five factions in the 1,000-strong People's Consultative Assembly will elect a president, vice president and endorse the 1998/2003 State Policy Guidelines in March. The two other factions in the assembly are the Armed Forces (ABRI) and the Regional Representatives, but these two are considered traditional allies of Golkar and invariably support the dominant faction.

"The Armed Forces headquarters has long considered renominating President Soeharto," ABRI chief of sociopolitical affairs, Lt. Gen. Yunus Yosfiah, said after an official visit to the House of Representatives (DPR) yesterday.

"ABRI considers that Pak Harto is still the country's best son for the presidency," he said.

Golkar first declared it was renominating Soeharto during its leadership meeting last October. At that time Soeharto demurred, suggesting Golkar recheck its stance with its members and supporters nationwide.

Yesterday, three leaders of a coalition of Golkar, the Armed Forces and the bureaucracy -- represented by Golkar chairman Harmoko, Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. and ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung -- visited Soeharto to tell him their stance remained unchanged.

Soeharto accepted the nomination yesterday.

"The majority of Indonesians still want Haj Muhammad Soeharto to be president for the 1998/2003 term," Harmoko told reporters at the House of Representatives. Harmoko is House Speaker.

Former vice president Sudharmono separately said that Soeharto must have accepted because he was now convinced that the majority of Indonesians supported him.

"He must have thought that his acceptance could stabilize the Indonesian economy," he said.

"Hopefully, the international community will positively respond to his decision, knowing that there is now political certainty in the country's state leadership," he said.

Dissent

Political observer Maswadi Rauf from the University of Indonesia predicted that the other factions at the MPR would follow Golkar in its nomination of Soeharto.

"Despite his age, Pak Harto is still the strongest figure for the presidency and has great support of the people," he said.

He dismissed speculation that President Soeharto accepted only after he felt secure that the international community supported him in exchange for his acquiescence to an International Monetary Fund (IMF)-sponsored economic reform package for Indonesia.

"His (acceptance) is not from any green light from the international community, in particular the United States," he said, "But, Pak Harto has really won the people's support."

A dissenting voice, however, came from the secretary-general of the National Commission on Human Rights, Baharuddin Lopa, who said that Golkar's nomination of Soeharto meant that it had failed to heed the aspiration of the majority of Indonesians.

"There should first be a national dialog on the presidency and the vice presidency which could absorb aspirations from all elements in society," he told reporters after addressing a discussion on the impact of the economic crisis, held by the Indonesian Catholic Students Movement (PMKRI) yesterday.

He said it was now difficult to say that the People's Consultative Assembly represented the people, while unofficial voices would never be recognized by the government.

"Both official and unofficial representative forces should sit together to form a common perception on the matter," he said.

Vice president

Regarding the question on the vice presidency, none of the party executives and observers interviewed yesterday concluded that Golkar had a specific name in mind when it conveyed a set of criteria for the post.

Harmoko, Yogie and Feisal suggested 29 criteria for the vice presidency, which includes mastery on science, technology and industry. This particular point has created speculation that Golkar was referring to State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.

Lopa said the item on science and technology by no means indicated certain names.

"It is not yet definite that Habibie will be the only eligible person," he said, "Ultimately, the decision will rest on the elected president."

Deputy House Speaker from the Armed Forces Syarwan Hamid said the criteria could be met by either Habibie, State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita or Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto.

Maswadi said the criteria could also be met by incumbent Try Sutrisno, Harmoko, and Minister of Information R. Hartono. (imn/09)