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)