Wiranto for president?

Wiranto for president?

From Koran Tempo

Small parties obtaining 3 percent of the vote in the general elections may nominate their presidential candidates.

As a result, they can easily nominate someone as a presidential candidate regardless of their track record.

One of these presidential hopefuls is Wiranto, who had an important position in the New Order era and during the administration of BJ Habibie.

It was when Wiranto held a government position that many bloody tragedies occurred, including, among others, the Trisakti tragedy, the Semanggi I and II incidents and the gross violations of human rights in East Timor. Like it or not, Wiranto should be responsible for these bloody incidents.

Today, Wiranto will come forward as a presidential candidate from the Golkar Party, although of course to be an official candidate of the party he must first be selected at the party's national convention. Actually, morally and politically Wiranto should refrain from taking part in this presidential race although legally he is entitled to do so.

His participation in the presidential race will only disrupt the political and democratic system that is now being nurtured in this country. Besides, the public continues to demand that the incidents referred to above be properly clarified and accounted for.

It is hard to imagine what this nation will be like if Wiranto is able to win the presidential race.

TONI K. MUHIDIN, Jakarta