Sri Bintang says he will run for presidency

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)