Soeharto pleads for stability<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto left on a one-week foreign
\ntrip yesterday, but not before pleading to the nation, which is
\nengulfed in a deep crisis, to preserve political stability.<\/p>\n
\"I have confidence in the people. I'm leaving the country
\ncalm, hopeful that political and national stability can be
\nmaintained,\" Soeharto said shortly before boarding his plane for
\nCairo to attend the Group of 15 summit which will be followed by
\na state visit to Egypt.<\/p>\n
\"In my absence I hope everything goes well, especially the
\nwork on reforms. (But) we must not let demands for reform destroy
\neverything that we have achieved through development,\" he said
\nfrom the VIP lounge of Halim Perdana Kusumah airport.<\/p>\n
\"I plead for the people's understanding. I understand their
\nsuffering because I come from a poor family,\" he said.<\/p>\n
His departure comes in the wake of massive, nationwide
\ndemonstrations led by students calling for political and economic
\nreform.<\/p>\n
The protests have been calling for greater political freedom,
\na cabinet reshuffle, lower prices, and a change in the national
\nleadership through an emergency session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
Soeharto's briefing of the media before departing on a foreign
\ntrip marked a break with tradition. In the past, the President
\nhas always briefed journalists on the flight home from overseas
\nvisits.<\/p>\n
Soeharto used the occasion to address various issues that have
\nsurfaced in recent weeks, from national stability, demands for
\nreform and cabinet reshuffle, hikes in fuel and electricity
\nprices, and the media coverage of these events.<\/p>\n
He emphasized the importance of maintaining stability at a
\ntime when the country was trying to lift itself out of the
\neconomic crisis.<\/p>\n
\"We need peace and comfort,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I trust that the people will put the interest of the country
\nand nation ahead of their individual interests,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Everyone must be willing to sacrifice their interests to meet
\nthe higher calling: the interests of the nation and the country.<\/p>\n
\"If we forget the importance of political stability and
\nnational stability, our efforts to solve the crisis will be
\nundermined.\"<\/p>\n
He said the country was faced with two choices, to continue
\nwith development until the goal of a just and prosperous nation
\nwas achieved, or return to the situation of 30 years ago and lose
\nthe fruits of development over the last three decades.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, who is also Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
\n(ABRI), warned that the military would take firm action against
\nthose who violated the law.<\/p>\n
It was ABRIs constitutional calling to take firm action to
\nensure the safety of the nation and the country, he said.<\/p>\n
The President said he endorsed the reform initiatives taken by
\nthe House of Representatives, and added that Indonesia has been
\nreforming since independence was achieved in 1945.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that while the House was reviewing the political
\nlaws he, as the elected President, was obliged to carry out his
\nmandate and implement the 1998\/2003 State Policy Guidelines.<\/p>\n
The Guidelines, he said, were full with intent to reform.<\/p>\n
Anybody who reads through the document would find the word
\n\"renewal\" used repeatedly, and this, he claimed, was similar to
\n\"reform\", a popular jargonistic addition to everyday speech.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that selecting members of the cabinet was his
\nprerogative. \"I chose those whom I considered best for the job
\nand met the selection criteria. There are shortcomings, but for
\nnow, I feel they are capable of helping me with my Presidential
\nresponsibilities.\"<\/p>\n
Soeharto defended his decision to raise fuel and electricity
\nprices last week, stressing that the government had taken various
\nmeasures to cushion the blow dealt to the poor.<\/p>\n
He cited the decision to increase the price paid to farmers
\nfor unhusked rice and the unexpected 15 percent increase in civil
\nservant salaries.<\/p>\n
Besides, farmers were now enjoying the fruits of the harvest
\nseason, he added.<\/p>\n
House Commission V on Energy rejected the increases on Friday
\nand called on the government to revoke the presidential decrees
\nthat led to move being taken.<\/p>\n
Commission members, during a hearing with Minister of Mines
\nand Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, said the increases were ill-
\ntimed.<\/p>\n
They also argued that the Rp 16 trillion fuel subsidy which
\nthe government hoped to phase out by raising prices was
\ninsignificant in comparison to the Rp 107 trillion the government
\nused to bail out troubled banks earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Soeharto refuted this comparison, saying: \"It is wrong and is
\nmisleading to the people.\"<\/p>\n
Money used to bail out banks was not disbursed as a subsidy.
\nAssistance was given in the form of loans in order to protect
\ndepositors, he said. \"Banks which received money will have to pay
\nit back.\"<\/p>\n
The President criticized the media for confusing people with
\ntheir coverage.<\/p>\n
\"So far, I have only seen the media using their freedom but
\nneglecting their responsibilities.<\/p>\n
\"Now I ask you all to carry out your duty and help calm the
\nsituation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Let's all work together and give our best to the nation and
\nthe country,\" Soeharto said. (prb\/emb)<\/p>",
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