President to focus on people's incomes<\/p>\n
JIMBARAN, Bali (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid assured the
\ninternational business community on Sunday that his government
\nwould uphold market-oriented policy and encourage foreign
\ninvestors to take an active part in the country's economic
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman pledged to focus on improving people's incomes
\nwhich he considered a key to civil service reform, strengthening
\nthe weak legal system and diluting the military's role in
\npolitics.<\/p>\n
In a wide-ranging speech in English, his first before an
\ninternational audience since taking office on Wednesday, the
\nPresident outlined his vision for the crisis-hit country, mapping
\nout the direction of his economic and foreign policies and
\nstressing the importance of full autonomy for provincial
\nadministrations.<\/p>\n
\"It is nonsense to talk about democratization, peace,
\ndemilitarization and other big issues if people cannot afford
\neven their basic necessities,\" Abdurrahman told foreign
\nbusinesspeople, diplomats and academics at an international
\nconference.<\/p>\n
He said most of the country's problems were caused by the
\nfailure to narrow the wealth gap, defiance of the law and
\ncentralized decision making in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The three-day conference, which ended on Sunday, was organized
\nby political and economic consultants Van Zorge Heffernan &
\nAssociates. The meeting, which discussed Indonesia's future,
\nfeatured foreign and domestic analysts as main panelists.<\/p>\n
He said he could understand people's growing demand for
\ndiscontinuation of the dual function of the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI).<\/p>\n
\"But I cannot simply order them (the military) to return to
\ntheir barracks without first solving their main problems,\" added
\nthe President, who as usual talked off the cuff.<\/p>\n
He said the main mistake of previous administrations was they
\ndid not focus on raising personal incomes. \"My government
\ntherefore will see to it that personal incomes will improve.\"<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman reiterated his commitment to protecting all
\ncitizens, regardless their religion, ethnic background and social
\nstatus.<\/p>\n
He said he wanted to see people from different religions and
\nethnic groups live in harmony and expressed profound sadness over
\nthe violent clashes between Christians and Muslims in Maluku.<\/p>\n
\"We must differentiate between religious militancy and
\nreligious consciousness,\" he noted.<\/p>\n
The President reiterated the imperative need for strengthening
\nthe judicial system and for a rule-based, level playing field in
\nthe market.<\/p>\n
\"We have to live with a free, open international trade system
\nwhere companies are motivated by profits,\" the President added.<\/p>\n
He said his government would foster private enterprises and
\nencourage foreign investors to help the country out of its
\npresent economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, he added, could not develop its economy without the
\nassistance of foreign investment.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman also talked about the urgent need for granting
\nfull autonomy to provinces and even hinted at the possibility,
\nsometime in the future, of a federal system in the country.<\/p>\n
\"There will be federalism, although I can not say openly
\nwhether it will be federalism in its real sense,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Foreign policy<\/p>\n
The President said he was willing to adjust the government's
\nforeign policy to whatever efforts would be necessary to improve
\npeople's living conditions.<\/p>\n
\"Because when Indonesia was still poor as it is now, other
\ncountries did not show any respect for Indonesia, he said.<\/p>\n
The President added, however, his government would not make
\nany compromises when it comes to \"our basic principles\".<\/p>\n
He also warned that his government would never tolerate any
\nhumiliation from other countries or parties and he would do
\neverything in his power to maintain national dignity and honor.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is a great nation with its 210 million population,\"
\nhe pointed out.<\/p>\n
The President said it was imperative for the country to
\ndevelop within the region as well as on a broader international
\nstage.<\/p>\n
He said he would follow the tradition of new leaders in ASEAN
\nto make introductory visits to its member countries.<\/p>\n
\"I will first visit Singapore, then Malaysia, Burma, Vietnam,
\nand the Philippines. I also would like to visit China, India and
\nJapan, before attending the informal ASEAN summit in Manila next
\nmonth,\" Abdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
He pointed out he was very eager to go to Israel, which he had
\nonce visited in his capacity as one of the founders of the Simon
\nPeres Institution.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia can learn a lot from Israel on economy and
\ndemocracy. Even several Arab countries have diplomatic relations
\nwith Israel,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said he had apologized to the United States Ambassador
\ndesignate, Robert Gelbard, at a meeting on Thursday for not
\nchoosing the superpower as his first overseas destination.<\/p>\n
The ambassador, according to him, praised his plan. \"But my
\ndaughter told me later the ambassador's face changed upon hearing
\nmy plan.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, AFP reported from Amman that President Abdurrahman
\nis among several world political and religious leaders expected
\nin the city to address a conference in November to promote peace
\nin the new millennium, organizers have said.<\/p>\n
\"President Wahid confirmed his participation before the
\nIndonesian elections and said he will give a key note address\" to
\nthe World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP), secretary-
\ngeneral William Vendley told AFP.<\/p>\n
\"I haven't spoken to him in the last three days to see whether
\nhe needs to change his plans because of the election,\" Vendley
\nsaid in a telephone call from New York on the weekend.<\/p>\n
Cabinet<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said he would recruit professionals with
\nimpeccable integrity to his Cabinet in a bid to build a clean,
\ncredible and respectable government.<\/p>\n
But he defied suggestions from most analysts and party leaders
\nwhich said that his Cabinet might still include former cabinet
\nmembers of his predecessors, B. J. Habibie and Soeharto.<\/p>\n
He said he understood the great concern of those who were
\nentirely against including any senior officials of the previous
\nadministrations in his Cabinet but he had to make some
\ncompromises.<\/p>\n
\"But please rest assured that I will see to it that all
\npeople recruited to my Cabinet will have their past track record
\nchecked thoroughly, will have to follow our course in economic
\ndevelopment and our new system which is based on honesty and
\nfairness,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The President also talked about personal matters such as his
\neye problem which prevents him from playing golf.<\/p>\n
\"Everytime I hit the ball, I can only hit my own legs,\" he
\nquipped and burst into laughter.<\/p>\n
He also jokingly complained about Merdeka Palace protocol:
\n\"Now, as President I have to wear shoes,\" he said.(prb)<\/p>",
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