Wiranto, Marwah begin presidential campaign

Wiranto, Marwah begin presidential campaign

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi

Former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. (ret) Wiranto and
Golkar deputy chairperson Marwah Daud Ibrahim kicked off their
quest for the presidency with a tour to win support from the
party's constituents here over the weekend.

The rally at Golkar's party chapter office came less than a
week after they confirmed their participation in the party's
national convention to select its presidential candidate.

Speaking before 200 Golkar supporters, South Sulawesi native
Marwah pledged to boost the democratization process in the
country.

"For me the opportunity from Golkar for its cadres to compete
in the convention is proof that democracy is on track," Marwah, a
mass communication expert, said.

Golkar was the political machine of the New Order regime under
former president Soeharto, who stepped down in May 1998 following
a wave of student rallies. But Golkar survived the most difficult
period for the party, thanks in part to chairman Akbar Tandjung.

Akbar is also contesting the convention despite his conviction
in a graft case. The convention committee has scrapped the
requirement for a candidate to submit a police clearance to show
that one does not have a criminal record to take part in the
selection, in an apparent move to facilitate Akbar's
participation in the convention.

Marwah, also known as one of Akbar's critics, said she
believed the convention would proceed in a fair and transparent
manner.

The capital of South Sulawesi is one of seven cities across
the country that will host the Golkar rally for 19 presidential
candidates who are joining the convention.

The party will short-list five candidates in October and
choose its sole presidential aspirant in October.

Wiranto had his turn to speak before Golkar supporters in
South Sulawesi on Sunday along with Yogyakarta Governor Sultan
Hamengkubuwono X.

Speaking after a discussion to review his newly launched book
here, Wiranto expressed his bid to win Golkar's support for the
landmark direct presidential election next year and said he would
not settle for vice president.

"The president is the main person who will determine the
success of the country. That's why I want to be president and not
vice president," he said.

Wiranto came under international scrutiny after state
prosecutors exempted him from the list of suspects in the human
rights violations before and after the UN-administered referendum
in East Timor in 1999. At that time he was the chief of the TNI,
which was entrusted to maintain security in the former Indonesian
province.

He wrote his newly published book titled: Testify amid the
storm in remembrance of the 1999 upheaval in East Timor.

Wiranto said he would promote efforts to strengthen law
enforcement, the eradication of corruption and improvement of
people's welfare during his presidential campaign.

Convention participants also include Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, media mogul Surya Paloh,
businessman Aburizal Bakrie and former Army's Strategic Reserves
Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto.

Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid has withdrawn from the
convention out of disappointment with the lack of transparency in
the selection process and the alleged involvement of money
politics. Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar followed suit,
citing his workload as a Cabinet member.