Shuttlers warned of psychological warfare<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto addressed the national Thomas
\nCup and Uber Cup badminton teams yesterday, cautioning them to be
\npsychologically ready for the way the foreign media reported
\nevents in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The President said psychological warfare may be waged against
\nthe national shuttlers through reports of bad news about crisis-
\nstricken Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The teams will leave for Hong Kong on Tuesday to attempt a
\nthird successive double Cup win.<\/p>\n
"We will take on their psychological warfare and terrorism,
\nand so forth ... The false reports on Indonesia, some half-baked
\nmockeries, may be exploited to weaken our players," Soeharto told
\nthe badminton squads.<\/p>\n
He said the foreign media always covered the dark side of the
\ncrisis in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"They always describe it as if we are facing chaos and famine
\nbecause of the economic wreckage. They also think the crisis will
\nadversely affect our players' performances. Of course we are in
\ntrouble, but not that way," Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
He said the players would hear bad news during their outing,
\nbut asked them to maintain their composure in order to retain the
\ntwo coveted trophies.<\/p>\n
"If you can win the Cups, it will brush aside all the
\nincorrect media reports," he said.<\/p>\n
The biennial event will be held at the Queen Elizabeth Indoor
\nStadium in Hong Kong from May 15 to May 24. Jakarta-based private
\nTV network RCTI will broadcast every match live played by the
\nIndonesian team from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.<\/p>\n
Soeharto received a courtesy call from the shuttlers at the
\nBina Graha presidential office. Badminton Association of
\nIndonesia chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, Minister of Youth Affairs
\nand Sports Agung Laksono and National Sports Council (KONI)
\nchairman Wismoyo Arismunandar were also present at the meeting.<\/p>\n
The Thomas Cup men's team is made up of Hariyanto Arbi,
\nHendrawan, Marlev Mainaky, Indra Wijaya, Joko Suprianto
\n(singles), Chandra Wijaya, Sigit Budiarto, Ricky Subagja, Rexy
\nMainaky and Tony Gunawan (doubles).<\/p>\n
The Uber Cup women's team consists of Susi Susanti, Mia
\nAudina, Meiluawati, Ellen Angelina, Cindana (singles), Elisa,
\nZelin Resiana, Deyana Lomban, Indarti Isolina and Finarsih
\n(doubles).<\/p>\n
Subagyo told Soeharto that the badminton association had
\ngroomed the players since January and that they were determined
\nto retain the Cups.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has won the Thomas Cup a record 10 times since 1957
\nand the Uber Cup three times.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is the current holder of both Cups from wins two
\nyears ago in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
Earlier Wednesday, Director General of Taxation I Made Gde
\nBrata said the government had granted the sports council's
\nrequest for departure tax exemptions for all members of the two
\nteams.<\/p>\n
The government quadrupled the tax, imposed on residents
\nleaving the country by air, to Rp 1 million in February.<\/p>\n
Exemptions are normally given to members of cultural, sports
\nand religious missions representing the country. Minister of
\nFinance Fuad Bawazier had announced earlier that only athletes
\nand officials bound to competitions with multiple events deserved
\nthe exemption.<\/p>\n
Secretary-general of the association, Leo Ch. Wiranata, said
\nthe exemption would save up to Rp 40 million for the 37-member
\nteam. (lnt\/prb)<\/p>",
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