Wiranto Ready To Account For May 1998 Incident

Jakarta, July 2 (Antara) - Retired general Wiranto said he was ready to answer questions about human rights violations during May 1998 riots that have always emerged every time he declared to run for president. "I am ready to account for what I have done in the past which was based on laws and the state policy. Anyone who is accusing me of violating the laws please come to me to hear what really happened then," he said after declaring his Hanura party`s presidential and vice presidential candidates for the election next year here on Tuesday. Wiranto said the state was under serious multi-dimensional crisis in May 1998 causing incidents of mass rioting across the country. As an armed forces commander and minister of defense under then the government of the late president Soeharto he said he had to be able to settle problems that happened in the country. "At that time, I could settle the problem and curb the rioting only within three days and our nation has remained intact. Victims did fall but that was the risk of any rioting," he said. Compared to similar incidents that have happened in other countries such as Egypt, Syria and Libya the May 1998 rioting had been handled better. In view of that he called on the general public to see the positive side of what security forces had done to lead the transformation process in Indonesia well, smooth and democratic. "I appeal to them to understand this to counter uncertain rumors that always emerge in connection with my nomination for the presidential election in 2014," he said. Hanura (Hati Nurani Rakyat - People`s Conscience) Party on Tuesday officially declared Wiranto, the party`s general chairman, and Hary Tanoesoedibjo, respectively as the party`s presidential and vice presidential candidates for the 2014 election. With the nomination Hanura became the first party to declare its presidential and vice presidential candidates for the 2014 election. In the last legislative elections in 2009 Hanura was one of the nine parties to pass the electoral threshold taking 18 seats in the House of Representatives). In the next legislative elections in 2014 the party wished to be able to become one of the biggest three.