Youths divided over presidential election

Youths divided over presidential election

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's next presidential election may not
be until 1998, but the debate over whether there should be one or
more candidates is already heating up.

More than 50 students from various universities in Java and
Bali yesterday submitted a petition to the House of
Representatives demanding a more democratic election and more
than one presidential candidate. Calling themselves the
Democratic Alliance of the People, the students were received by
members of the Indonesian Democratic Party faction.

A day earlier, on Sunday, the youth wing of the ruling Golkar
group declared its support for the renomination of President
Soeharto for another five-year term. Soeharto has been leading
the country for six consecutive terms.

The youth wing, known as GM Gakari, plans to mobilize
entertainers to garner public support for the renomination,
Antara reported.

Yesterday, the alliance activists said that article 6 of the
1945 Constitution stipulates that the president and vice
president are elected by a majority of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR).

"This means that there has to be more than one candidate for
president or vice president," read the group's political
statement signed by its secretary-general Pius Lustrilanang.

The 1,000-seat MPR will meet in 1998 to establish the Broad
Guidelines of State Policies and to elect a new president.

The students charged that principles of democracy have not
been implemented since the New Order administration came to power
30 years ago. Since 1971, when the first general election under
the New Order was held, "we never had more than one presidential
candidate", the students said.

PDI faction spokesman Popo Sonadar Harun promised to bring the
petition to a meeting with other faction leaders. "We have to
establish a united opinion about your petition," he said.

Popo said that his party already has decided on its candidate
for the 1998 presidential election. "Many PDI chapters have
expressed their support for Megawati Soekarnoputri," he said,
referring to the party's chief.

"But whether she will be unanimously accepted as the PDI
candidate will need to be discussed further at a national PDI
forum," he said.

Support for Soeharto's renomination has been pouring in from
various institutions and individuals, including chairman of the
Supreme Advisory Board Sudomo, Minister of Transmigration Siswono
Yudohusodo and a number of Golkar executives.

The activists yesterday said they support the recently
established Independent Election Monitoring Committee, which they
believe will facilitate a more democratic, honest and fair
election.

"The independent committee is part of a process to democratize
the general elections," Pius said. "The government should welcome
it, rather than treat it with suspicion."

More than 50 journalists, lawyers, statesmen, academics and
activists established the watchdog on March 15 to correct the way
elections have been held in the past.

In January, a similar independent monitoring committee was
established in Bandung, West Java. The initiative was followed by
the establishment of several regional independent committees in
various cities.

The idea for an independent committee originated with the
United Development Party (PPP), which alleges that cheating in
previous elections has gone unpunished.

Several PPP chapters in the provinces have openly threatened
to boycott next year's election unless the government, which
backs Golkar, guarantees fairness.

Critics say that the current electoral system favors Golkar,
which has won the last five general elections. (imn)