Students join poll on presidency

YOGYAKARTA (JP): More than 9,500 students from Gadjah Mada University voted Thursday on whether they wished to see the renomination of President Soeharto for another term.

To the disappointment of a horde of waiting reporters and students the organizers canceled yesterday's planned announcement of the result twice.

Following discussions behind closed doors, two of the organizers -- Haryo Setyoko and Ridaya La Ode Ngkowe -- said the cancellation was because they wanted to submit the result to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) first.

The country's supreme legislative body will convene next March and elect the next president and vice president.

Haryo and La Ode refused to explain the cancellation of the announcement.

"There's been no intervention (by outside parties). We just want to deliver the result to the MPR first," Haryo said.

The poll, in which 9,538 students -- or one third of the university's population -- cast ballots, also asked respondents whether they were in favor of a limitation on the number of terms any president could serve.

Gadjah Mada University students are renowned for their initiative in holding surveys and votes.

Earlier this year, for instance, they held a poll whose result named Amien Rais, the chairman of the Muhammadiyah Moslem organization as the man of the year. (23/swe)