Suharto still silent on vice-president

By Max Lane

The Indonesian People's Deliberative Assembly (MPR) began meeting on March 1. It is expected to re-elect Suharto as president and to choose a new vice-president sometime between March 9 and 11.

The armed forces (ABRI) has now secured public statements of support for its candidate -- outgoing ABRI commander in chief Try Sutrisno -- from the four major groupings in parliament. At the same time, Suharto -- who is more identified with monopoly business interests than with the army -- has made no public statement on the question, continuing to fuel rumours that he may make a surprise announcement seeking support for an alternative candidate.

Dissension continues on this issue, especially inside Golkar, the government party. Several newspaper editors were summoned this week by politics and security minister Sudomo, who reprimanded them for reporting on the dissension and disruptions that occurred during a meeting of the Golkar fraction in the MPR.

According to journalistic sources in Jakarta, the Golkar caucus divided into a number of factions, and some speakers were heckled off the podium. In particular, the newspapers gave prominence to the charge by Mrs Sudharmono, the wife of the current vice-president, that the caucus was no longer functioning democratically. There was no public airing, however, of what the internal disputes were about. Sudharmono is thought to be Suharto's first choice for vice-president.

Meanwhile, observers are wondering whether a statement of support for Try by Suharto's businessman son, Tommy Suharto, is a sign that Suharto is willing to do a deal with the army. According to Green Left's sources in Jakarta, Tommy also said that Suharto was getting tired of ruling. This was immediately rejected by Suharto's big businessman brother, Probosutejo.

It is now unlikely that Suharto will make his position on the vice-president clear until he has been confirmed as president for the next term. Announcing surprise candidates at the last minute is not a new tactic for Suharto, and there are reports that one of the country's most influential and well-connected Muslim figures is saying that Suharto wants to nominate the new ABRI commander in chief, Edi Sudrajat -- a move that theoretically might split the leadership.

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