Students reject Soeharto's renomination

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of Gadjah Mada University students have rejected the renomination of President Soeharto for the 1998/2003 presidency.

A total 7,940 students, or 82.82 percent of 9,587 students joining a poll which they called a "referendum", voted "no" last week to the question of "Do you agree to the renomination of Soeharto for the 1998/2003 presidency?"

A total 8,860 students, or 92.42 percent of the students surveyed, voted in favor of the introduction of limited presidential terms. The college has some 30,000 students.

Organizers argued that despite being held only among Gadjah Mada students, the poll result was no less a portrait of Indonesian students' political stance. The poll result was discussed here yesterday at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) office.

Former legislator Sabam Sirait and political observers Harun Al Rasyid and Arbi Sanit hailed the poll result as "a reflection of political aspirations of the 21st century generation".

The three were speakers in the discussion.

The dominant Golkar has officially nominated President Soeharto for his seventh term, but the President has hinted he will step aside and play a pundit role if not reelected.

The United Development Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party, and the influential Armed Forces faction in the House of Representatives have yet to announce their candidate for the next presidency.

"We hope the result of this referendum can be used as a political bargaining tool when (political parties) come to discuss the issue of national leadership succession," the students said.

The students also called on the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) -- who will be in charge of the presidential election next March -- to consider the poll result in their deliberation.

Gadjah Mada University students have frequently conducted similar polls. Some people, including the Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, have criticized student polls for lacking scientific rigor. (aan)