Presidential accountability speech incomplete: PPP, PDI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The two minority parties criticized President
\nSoeharto's account of his last five years of leadership as
\nincomplete and suggested improvements yesterday.<\/p>\n
United Development Party (PPP) chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum
\nand Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) chairman Soerjadi
\nseparately said the President failed to include in his speech
\ncertain strategic issues, including the need for political
\nreform.<\/p>\n
"What has been achieved in the political sector (over the past
\nfive years) is far below our expectations," Ismail, better known
\nas Buya, told reporters after the opening of the General Session
\nof the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) yesterday.<\/p>\n
Two PPP legislators, Hamzah Haz and Muhammad Buang, shared
\nIsmail's view.<\/p>\n
"The President's accountability speech was focused on economic
\nreform only, while economic problems cannot be separated from
\npolitics," Hamzah said.<\/p>\n
"Economic reform should go hand in hand with political
\nreform," Buang said.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi said Soeharto's accountability speech failed to
\ndiscuss existing mismanagement in the government.<\/p>\n
"The account was incomplete because it discussed mostly the
\ncountry's success in development programs," he said. "The account
\ndid not touch on government officials' corruption and collusion,
\nor business monopolies."<\/p>\n
He said the PDI faction had begun preparing its response to
\nthe presidential accountability speech. He declined to explain
\nthe faction's final stance.<\/p>\n
Golkar legislator Pinantun Hutasoit said there would be no
\nreason for his faction to reject the President's account of
\nleadership.<\/p>\n
"The House of Representatives (DPR) has never rejected
\nPresident Soeharto's yearly speech on the State Budget. As it is,
\nwe will also accept the President's account of leadership," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Hasan Basri Durin, chairman of the regional representatives
\nfaction, also stated his faction's readiness to accept Soeharto's
\naccount.<\/p>\n
"The accountability speech was sincerely, objectively and
\nstraightforwardly prepared by President Soeharto," he said. "(My)
\nfaction will accept it unconditionally."<\/p>\n
He said the President had given a balanced report of progress
\nachieved by the country over the past five years -- his report
\nnot only disclosed success in development programs, but also in a
\nnumber of problems, including the monetary crisis facing
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Asked whether it had been necessary for Soeharto to publicly
\nexpress regret over the prolonged monetary crisis, Hasan said the
\nPresident should not solely be blamed for the crisis.<\/p>\n
"This is the responsibility of all Indonesians," he said.<\/p>\n
Hari Sabarno, chairman of the Armed Forces faction at the
\nAssembly, said his faction had yet to discuss its stance, but he
\nwas confident members would accept Soeharto's account.<\/p>\n
"We have renominated Pak Harto for the next presidency. Why
\nwould we reject his account?" he asked.<\/p>\n
The five factions will deliver their overview of Soeharto's
\naccount tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, former vice president Sudharmono said he understood
\nif it took the government a long time to remedy the economy.<\/p>\n
"The government could not overcome the crisis within a day or
\ntwo," he said. "Unlike magical tricks, economic reform cannot be
\ncarried out except in phases."<\/p>\n
"What is important is that there should be progress in the
\ndevelopment program," he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto said it was not
\nthe right time to pass the buck for the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
He said the crisis had taken place because of globalization
\nand trade liberalization.<\/p>\n
"Whether we like it or not, we have to bear all the risks of
\nsuch a globalized economy," he said. "And we have had to suffer
\ngreater losses than we anticipated.<\/p>\n
"What we now need is to stay united to survive the monetary
\ncrisis," he said. (imn\/byg)<\/p>",
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