Election not battle of supporters, says Soeharto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto reminded the nation yesterday
\nthe general election is not a battle between supporters of the
\nthree political groups.<\/p>\n
It would be normal for parties participating in the general
\nelection, scheduled for May 29, to try to woo as many voters as
\npossible, he said.<\/p>\n
But he added the event, dubbed as the \"fiesta of democracy\",
\nwas not meant to be an arena where supporters of the political
\nparties fought against each other.<\/p>\n
\"In such a situation, it's possible that certain parties would
\nwant to turn the healthy, democratic competition into a conflict
\nby launching provocation,\" Soeharto told a meeting of the
\nMinistry of Religious Affairs at the State Palace yesterday.<\/p>\n
He identified a number of polarizing issues often exploited to
\ncreate conflict, such as ethnicity, religion, race and social
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by the Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi
\nTaher, Soeharto said the election should be a gauge of the
\ncommunity's ability to control and prevent social unrest.<\/p>\n
\"The election and the preceding election campaign should be an
\nopportunity for political contestants to compete (to woo voters)
\nwith programs and ideas which benefit development,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We still have a long way to go and must work harder, but the
\nexisting shortcomings should not be an excuse to upset what we
\nhave achieved through hard work,\" he was quoted by Antara as
\nsaying.<\/p>\n
The three political parties -- the United Development Party
\n(PPP), the dominant Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI) -- will start campaigning Sunday.<\/p>\n
The campaign will end five days before the May 29 polls. This
\nfive-day \"cooling off\" period is allocated for the general
\nelection committee to make final preparations for ballot day.<\/p>\n
Some 124 million eligible voters are expected to cast their
\nvote. They will elect members of the House of Representatives in
\nthe election, held once every five years.<\/p>\n
Golkar chairman Harmoko said yesterday the political
\norganization would not resort to the issue of national leadership
\nsuccession to attract voters.<\/p>\n
\"Our campaigners have been instructed not to mention any names
\nof candidates for presidency and vice presidency,\" he was quoted
\nby Antara as saying in Semarang over the weekend.<\/p>\n
He said Golkar campaigners would only propose various programs
\nin order to ensure sustainable economic development.<\/p>\n
\"We will disclose our presidential and vice presidential
\ncandidates when the right time comes, (namely) the general
\nassembly of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR),\" he said.<\/p>\n
The 1,000-strong MPR will convene in March next year to elect
\na president, vice president and establish the Broad Guidelines of
\nState Policies.<\/p>\n
Harmoko, who is also the minister of information, said Golkar
\ncampaigners would adhere to a set of directives contained in a
\nbook called Visi Pembangunan Golkar 2018 (The Golkar Vision of
\nDevelopment for 2018). Printed with a yellow cover, it's commonly
\ncalled the yellow book.<\/p>\n
Novelist Motinggo Busye launched Golkar dan Harmoko (Golkar
\nand Harmoko) in Jakarta yesterday. Motinggo wrote the book as a
\npresent for Harmoko's 58th birthday on Feb. 7, 1997. (imn)<\/p>",
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