UII denies nominating Soeharto

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)