YKPK voices different opinion on Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): A nationalist-oriented group, the National Brotherhood Foundation (YKPK), urged the People's Consultative Assembly yesterday not to renominate incumbent President Soeharto for the next presidential term.

In a statement read by its secretary-general Matori Abdul Djalil before executives of the United Development Party (PPP) faction in the Assembly, the group said poor health, old age and family reluctance were all adverse elements which should be considered.

They added that the president would face extra challenges in the next five years.

"He (Soeharto) has dedicated his life to the country for 50 years as a soldier and a statesman. We expect each faction in the Assembly not to force and sacrifice him by asking him to carry out more heavy tasks," the statement said.

The group instead asked the factions in the Assembly to heed Soeharto's advice and consider carefully the final choice of their respective candidates.

However, YKPK, which groups retired military officers, politicians and other public figures, failed to mention alternative candidates who could fill Soeharto's shoes.

The group's chairman, Bambang Triantoro, who led the group's delegation yesterday, said YKPK would let each faction decide its own candidate.

"We have our candidates and choices, but it wouldn't be ethical for us to recommend the factions to pick our candidates," said Bambang who was Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical affairs in the mid 1980s.

Formed in 1995, YKPK is known for its strong views often critical of the government.

Acquiesce

But Bambang asserted that the group would still support the result of the presidential election, whoever is selected by the Assembly, including the reelection of Soeharto.

"(If that happens) We will accept, we will submit. This is a democratic country and that means that that choice is the people's choice," Bambang remarked.

Each of the five factions in the Assembly will officially disclose its presidential candidate on March 8.

The 1,000-strong Assembly will elect a president on March 10 and a vice president the next day.

So far, dominant political group Golkar is the first to publicly announce its support for Soeharto's renomination.

The Moslem-based faction PPP and the Armed Forces faction have so far refused to announce their respective presidential candidate.

YKPK is not the only group who have urged the Assembly to reconsider reelecting Soeharto.

Early last month, two student groups rallied at the House of Representatives to demand a leadership succession.

In mid December, a poll conducted on Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University students revealed only minor support for Soeharto's reelection.

The Assembly has also listed 14 alternative presidential candidates proposed by various organizations in the past two months.

Having been in power for 30 years, Soeharto, who will turn 77 in June, looks unchallenged in the presidential election.

Despite Soeharto's request for Golkar to reconsider its decision to renominate him and the first family's wish to see him retire, Golkar has been steadfast in its decision to support the incumbent President. (amd)