UII denies nominating Soeharto

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Islamic University (UII) here denied yesterday it had ever declared support for President Soeharto's renomination to another term of office.

Speaking in a press conference, Deputy Rector Moh. Mahfud referred to a news article in Kompas on Nov. 21 which said the university renominated Soeharto for the presidency.

"The university has never nominated anyone for the presidency or the vice presidency," Mahfud said. The daily's news article was written under the heading Habibie, Hartono, Try Sutrisno Diusulkan Jadi Cawapres (Habibie, Hartono, and Try Sutrisno for vice presidency).

The daily quoted Poedjono Prayitno, chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Working Committee, as saying that UII was one of 13 parties wanting Soeharto to be renominated for the presidency.

Mahfud said the university had sent a delegation to the MPR on Oct. 14 and that it was met by Poedjono, but did not make any such declaration.

Mahfud said the university only submitted a book to the MPR titled: Tantangan Pembangunan Indonesia: Pandangan Kontemporer dari Dunia Kampus dan Executive Summary (The Challenges of Indonesian Development: A Contemporary View from the Campus and an Executive Summary).

The delegation requested the Assembly study and interpret an article on presidency under the 1945 Constitution, he said.

Various groups, especially those affiliated with the dominant Golkar, have openly declared their support for the renomination of Soeharto for the 1998/2003 presidency. No universities have declared such support before. (23/aan)