Soeharto renews warning on election boycotters<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto acknowledged yesterday that
\nvoting was not mandatory but warned that people who incited
\nothers to boycott the election would be punished.<\/p>\n
Every citizen is free to vote or not to vote but no one may
\nprevent others from exercising their right, Soeharto said during
\na visit to Sigli, Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"We won't hesitate to take punitive action against people that
\nprevent others from going to the polls,\" he said in a meeting
\nwith Sigli village leaders.<\/p>\n
The President's comments come amid reports of anonymous
\ncampaigns encouraging people to boycott the upcoming election.<\/p>\n
The dominant Golkar organization, the United Development Party
\n(PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) will contest 425
\nof the 500 seats in the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
The general election will be followed by the presidential
\nelection in March 1998 in the People's Consultative Assembly.
\nMany observers believe Soeharto will be re-elected.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said he had learned some people were not going to the
\npolls and were trying to persuade other to do the same.<\/p>\n
\"To choose not to vote is their right but if they urge others
\nto follow suit, punitive measures await them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Security authorities in various provinces have reported
\nseizing anonymous leaflets that urged people to boycott the May
\ngeneral election.<\/p>\n
The unrecognized Indonesian Democratic Union Party has openly
\ncalled for a boycott. Its chairman, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, and
\nanother two activists have been detained and charged with
\nsubversion.<\/p>\n
Last week, police in Bogor said they had seized 70 leaflets
\ncalling for people to boycott the general election. They summoned
\nan Independent Election Monitoring Committee activist in
\nconnection with the pamphlets. The activist denied being involved
\nin their production.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto, who is also the supreme Armed Forces
\ncommander, threatened to take harsh action against anyone caught
\ndisrupting the general election process, including ballot
\ncounting at polling booths.<\/p>\n
\"Never stand in the way of people who want to exercise their
\nright to vote, or face punishment,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
The government has set up alert centers across the country to
\ndeal with security disturbances. Soeharto advised the public to
\nmake use of them during the election campaign.<\/p>\n
\"Never take the law into your own hands,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Some political activists sympathetic to the ousted PDI leader
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri have also threatened to boycott the
\nelection unless she is reinstated.<\/p>\n
Megawati, former president Sukarno's eldest daughter, was
\ntoppled in a government-sanctioned rebel congress in Medan last
\nJune. She was replaced by Soerjadi but she sticks to her claim
\nthat she remains the party's legitimate chief.<\/p>\n
When hosting the party's 24th anniversary at her residence in
\nJanuary, she called on her supporters to exercise their rights to
\ngo to the polls.<\/p>\n
Accompanying the President during the visit to Aceh were among
\nothers Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono, Minister of Religious
\nAffairs Tarmizi Taher, Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M.
\nand Aceh Governor Syamsuddin Machmud. (pan)<\/p>\n
Teachers -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-renews-warning-on-election-boycotters-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }