Sri Bintang says he will run for presidency

JAKARTA (JP): Controversial politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas announced yesterday his intention to run for the presidency in 1998, and named former student leader Julius Usman as vice president on his ticket.

"A democratic presidential election should have more than one candidate. I therefore declare myself as one of the candidates for the election," Bintang said yesterday.

"We challenge President Soeharto and other candidates for a direct, democratic presidential election by the people," Bintang told journalists.

Eligible Indonesians will vote in the general election scheduled for late May next year, to cioose members of the House of Representatives.

The 1,000-member People Consultative's Assembly (MPR) will convene in 1998 to elect a new president and to adopt the 1998- 2003 Guidelines of State Policies. The assembly will also review laws proposed by the government-recognized political organizations -- the United Development Party (PPP), Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Bintang, chairman of the unrecognized Indonesian Democratic Union Party (PUDI), is the latest "outsider" to disclose his intention to enter the presidential race. In April this year a little known PDI member, Berar Fathia, also challenged Soeharto.

Many observers have expressed the conviction that Soeharto will retain his post if he wishes to stay in power.

Support for Soeharto's renomination has been pouring in from various institutions and individuals, including chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council Sudomo, Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo and a number of organizations and individuals affiliated to Golkar.

The latest gesture of support came on Thursday from the Keluarga Besar Laskar Arief Rachman Hakim, an organization of former student leaders who played a major role in helping Soeharto rise to power in 1966.

Despite his announcement, Bintang said there was "not much hope for any significant change" in either the general elections next year or the presidential race in 1998.

Soeharto has been in continuous power since 1968 and has won six consecutive presidential terms unopposed.

Despite Soeharto's strong position, Bintang called on Golkar, the PDI and the PPP to name their own candidates for president.

Bintang, having represented the PPP in the House of Representatives since 1992, was sacked in May of last year during the course of a police investigation into his alleged defamation of the President. Party leaders said Bintang had repeatedly contradicted the party's official line on many political issues.

He is currently appealing a court decision sentencing him to two years and ten months imprisonment for slandering Soeharto as a "dictator" during a series of speeches in Germany last year.

Bintang denied that a possible jail term was a hindrance to his presidential nomination.

"You can see former president Sukarno, Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi of India and Nelson Mandela of South Africa, who went on with their struggle although they had been jailed," he said.

Yesterday's announcement was attended by some government critics, including human rights advocate H.J.C. Princen and human rights lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution.

ABRI

Separately, political observer Suhardiman said he believed personnel from the Armed Forces (ABRI) are still the strongest contenders for the presidential race.

"ABRI is the country's only institution with a solid training and supervision system for its cadres," he said.

He also said that Soeharto appeared to be the strongest contender, if he was willing to be renominated. He pointed out that the MPR would certainly pick Soeharto if the latter said he was willing.

"If he's not willing, then, there are eligible ABRI officials, including Vice President Try Sutrisno, Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat, ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Hartono and Chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command Lt. Gen. Wiranto," he said.

Suhardiman, currently deputy chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, said he did not believe that State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie had a chance of winning the presidential race, should he decide to run. He pointed out that a presidential candidates needs not only to be capable, but also accepted by the people.

He conceded, however, that Habibie might have a chance in the vice presidential race, as might information minister Harmoko. (imn)