Assembly set to accept Soeharto's speech<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): All the People's Consultative Assembly factions
\nsaid yesterday they would accept President Soeharto's leadership
\naccountability address, although some added they would do so only
\nwith reservations.<\/p>\n
The government factions, Golkar and the regional
\nrepresentatives, said that the President's accountability speech
\ndelivered to the Assembly on Sunday was \"complete and
\nacceptable.\"<\/p>\n
The regional representatives faction, which is made up chiefly
\nof government officials, reaffirmed its stand that it would
\naccept the 2,000-page statement without reservation.<\/p>\n
The United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) also plan to accept it, albeit with notes
\nurging the government to do more to end the economic crisis, make
\nsome political changes and do more to combat corruption in the
\nbureaucracy.<\/p>\n
The powerful Armed Forces (ABRI) faction said that it had no
\nsignificant problem with Soeharto's speech.<\/p>\n
All the five factions in the Assembly will present their views
\nin a plenary session tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Long before the President gave his accountability for the last
\nfive years, all the factions had renominated the man who has been
\nin power for 32 years unchallenged for a seventh successive term.<\/p>\n
An official of the dominant Golkar organization, Z.A. Maulani,
\nsaid Soeharto presented a detailed report on the implementation
\nof his mandate.<\/p>\n
\"What President Soeharto read in front of last Sunday's
\nplenary session was only excerpts and some people mistakenly
\nthought it lacked depth and made little mention of politics,\" he
\ntold journalists.<\/p>\n
Most urgent<\/p>\n
\"The President focused on the economic aspect because the most
\nurgent problem facing the country at present is the economic
\ncrisis,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Golkar commands 588 seats in the 1,000-member Assembly.<\/p>\n
The head of the regional representatives faction, Hasan Basri
\nDurin, said he saw no flaws in the President's accountability
\nreport.<\/p>\n
\"We accept the speech of accountability without reservation,\"
\nhe told journalists.<\/p>\n
Durin, a former West Sumatra governor, praised Soeharto's
\nspeech as \"politically honest, optimistic and realistic\".<\/p>\n
Durin's deputy, Agum Gumelar, added that the faction had
\nstudied the accountability report carefully before it decided to
\naccept it unconditionally.<\/p>\n
\"The President described both the successes and failures in
\ndevelopment efforts,\" he said. \"He was also determined to do his
\nbest to overcome the economic crisis.\"<\/p>\n
PPP faction chief Jusuf Syakir said the party would accept
\nSoeharto's accountability speech with some reservations.<\/p>\n
He said the demand for clean government would highlight the
\nconditions in exchange for the faction's acceptance of the
\nspeech.<\/p>\n
\"Many have lauded Indonesia's successful development programs,
\nbut when economic crisis prevails in the region, it is proven
\nthat we suffer the most compared to other countries. There must
\nbe something wrong with us,\" Jusuf said after an internal meeting
\nof the Moslem-based faction.<\/p>\n
Corruption<\/p>\n
\"We think corruption, collusion and monopolistic practices
\nthat have reached out to the lowest administrative level must be
\nblamed for the prolonged crisis. This is the situation we have to
\nchange.\"<\/p>\n
A poll conducted by Hong Kong-based research company PERC last
\nyear put Indonesia on top of the list of Asia's most corrupt
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Jusuf said the next government should set up a special body
\nassigned to examine possessions of top officials, including
\nministers. The body, he added, would have to team up with
\nprosecutor's offices.<\/p>\n
\"In short, we demand a continuous nationwide anticorruption
\ncampaign,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Chairman of the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction in the House
\nof Representatives, Lt. Gen. Hari Sabarno, said yesterday that
\nhis faction would accept the accountability speech.<\/p>\n
\"In general, we will accept the President's accountability
\nspeech.\"<\/p>\n
Asked whether the Armed Forces had any reservations, Hari said<\/p>\n
\"We will include our suggestions on efforts to settle the
\nongoing monetary crisis.\" he said, adding that his faction
\nsupported the steps taken by the government in compliance with
\nthe International Monetary Fund rescue package.<\/p>\n
PDI faction chairman Buttu R. Hutapea said his party did not
\nhave any major objections to the accountability speech.<\/p>\n
He said his faction would propose that each political
\norganization should be allowed to establish branch offices in
\nvillages.<\/p>\n
\"It's currently difficult for us (PDI) to establish our
\npolitical basis in villages because political organizations
\ncannot operate branch offices at that level,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that the PDI faction would also propose a change in
\nthe electoral system. (pan\/imn\/byg\/imn)<\/p>",
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