Check again on mass support: Soeharto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto urged the ruling Golkar to
\nensure that the people really support his renomination for the
\n1998\/2003 presidency because he did not want to be seen as
\nhampering leadership succession.<\/p>\n
"We still have five months (until the March presidential
\nelection) to check whether (the people's trust exists)," he said
\nin an off-the-cuff remark after delivering an address at Golkar's
\n33rd anniversary reception here last night.<\/p>\n
Speaking in his capacity as the ruling organization's chief
\npatron, Soeharto was responding to Golkar's announcement minutes
\nearlier that it was renominating him for another term of office.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said he wanted to be sure that people were not forced
\nto support him.<\/p>\n
"I hope their trust is not a pseudo one because if so I could
\nbe accused of (being someone who's) obstructing succession, an
\nobstacle to the regeneration process," he said. "I could also be
\naccused of being a complacent Golkar cadre, (accused of being
\ndissatisfied with) being a president for six terms and now
\nwanting a seventh term."<\/p>\n
Soeharto's audience of some 5,000 people was apparently moved
\nby his search for assurance that they immediately responded to
\nmany of his remarks.<\/p>\n
When he said: "Is it really true that the renomination is a
\nreflection of people's trust for me?", some in the audience
\nyelled: "It's true!"<\/p>\n
Soeharto was first elected President in 1968 by the
\nProvisional People's Consultative Assembly and then reelected for
\nfive consecutive terms.<\/p>\n
His current term will expire in March next year and the 1,000-
\nstrong People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will meet to elect a
\npresident and vice president.<\/p>\n
Golkar chairman Harmoko said earlier in the reception that
\nGolkar was certain that "the nation's best son, who fulfills all
\nthe criteria as president for the 1998\/2003 term, is Haji
\nMuhammad Soeharto."<\/p>\n
The audience, which included Vice President Try Sutrisno and
\nhis wife Tuti along with representatives of the ruling political
\nparties from friendly countries, cheered and gave a standing
\novation for the smiling President.<\/p>\n
"You see Pak, the people gave a standing ovation for one
\nminute," Harmoko said. The audience then gave Soeharto another
\nstanding ovation for about 30 seconds.<\/p>\n
Soeharto indicated that even when he was no longer leading the
\ncountry, he would still play a role in helping the people and the
\nfuture government.<\/p>\n
He cited the role of pandita (the sage or pundit) in the
\nwayang shadow puppet stories who was a spiritual leader and
\nhelped the real leader prabu (king).<\/p>\n
"My duty now is to get closer to God, take care of my
\nchildren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren... give advice
\nto people and to tut wuri handayani (guide from behind) the next
\nleader ruling the country, developing it into a prosperous and
\nsafe country," Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
In another part of his speech, Harmoko said the political
\norganization was not turning Soeharto into a cult figure by
\nrenominating him for the 1998\/2003 presidency.<\/p>\n
"The decision to renominate the incumbent President, reached
\nat the (just concluded) Golkar leadership meeting, is by no means
\nan (act to turn Soeharto into an) individual cult. Instead, it is
\nthe manifestation of the people's aspirations and will," Harmoko
\nasserted.<\/p>\n
Heeding people's aspirations and will is part of democracy and
\nthe upholding of people's sovereignty, he said.<\/p>\n
He then asked those present to bless Soeharto with physical
\nand spiritual strength to lead the country for another term of
\noffice.<\/p>\n
He said Golkar wanted the presidential election to be held in
\naccordance with the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
Among the criteria set by the organization is the requirement
\nthat its presidential candidate be a devout person, one who has
\nthe ability to unite the nation, is wise and has the courage to
\nmake decisions when difficult times are facing the country.<\/p>\n
In his official speech, the President said he hoped that
\nGolkar would maintain the people's deep trust and support for it
\nand to enhance its efforts to defend their interests.<\/p>\n
"Golkar has indeed become deeply rooted in the mind of
\npeople ... such a great trust should hopefully make all members
\nof Golkar's rank and file and particularly Golkar members in the
\nHouse of Representatives\/People's Consultative Assembly to
\nuntiringly strive to serve the people's interests," he said.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the reception, Golkar legislator Marwah Daud
\nIbrahim read the organization's political statement. The
\norganization promised, for instance, to ensure that the people's
\naspirations are included in the 1998\/2003 Guidelines of State
\nPolicies. (prb\/imn\/swe)<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/check-again-on-mass-support-soeharto-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }