Soeharto stresses importance of voting<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto said today's general election
\nwas of particular importance because it would take Indonesia into
\nthe 21st century and the world was watching closely.<\/p>\n
\"The outside world is also interested in the result of this
\ngeneral election as input in formulating their policies which
\nthey will adopt on us in years to come,\" Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
In a nationwide televised speech last night, Soeharto again
\ncalled on all voters to exercise their voting rights responsibly.
\n\"Eligible voters have the right to vote for the most suitable
\ncontestant for their aspirations and interests,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The President and his family will vote at a polling station
\nnear his residence on Jl. Cendana, with about 300 other residents
\nof Menteng, Central Jakarta. About 124.7 million eligible voters
\nare expected to cast their votes at 305,219 polling stations
\nacross the country.<\/p>\n
Some foreign correspondents have sought invitations to cover
\nSoeharto voting today. Five years ago he surprised many by
\nbriefly addressing foreign journalists after he had voted.<\/p>\n
\"General elections are a part of the five-year national
\nleadership cycle, and through the election the nation prepares
\nthe direction of its national leadership and development,\"
\nSoeharto said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said he was confident that all members of the
\nelections committees had worked hard to ensure that all voters
\nwould be able to cast their ballots without disturbances.<\/p>\n
\"Obey all the regulations so that this election truly reflects
\npeople's aspirations,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
Sin<\/p>\n
Separately, the chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council,
\nHasan Basri, ruled yesterday that Moslems would be committing a
\nsin if they refrained from voting in today's general election.<\/p>\n
\"Those who do not exercise their right to vote, or choose
\nGolput (nonvoting), spoil Allah's divine gift of grace,\" Hasan
\nwas quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.<\/p>\n
Therefore, he said, as good citizens every Moslem was obliged
\nto cast their ballot without hesitation because the poll result
\nwould be vital in determining the state's direction.<\/p>\n
\"Your vote would be meaningful for the state's future,\" said
\nBasri as quoted by the state news agency.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Bishops Council said in its pre-Easter pastoral
\nletter that it would not be a sin for Catholics not to vote. It
\ncalled on Catholics to listen to their conscience in exercising
\ntheir political rights.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto said yesterday he was concerned about the
\nrecent riots. He told the local press to refrain from
\nsensationalizing social disparity issues because bias reports
\ncould agitate and eventually cause riots.<\/p>\n
Soeharto told Hasan Basri and the ulemas who visited him
\nyesterday to soothe and calm the public and not aggravate the
\nsituation.<\/p>\n
\"I acknowledge that we have shortcomings. Let us resolve these
\nshortcomings. But please... do not only expose the negative and
\nconceal the positive aspects of development,\" Soeharto was quoted
\nby Hasan Basri as saying after their meeting.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono and other
\ngovernment officials, Basri and four other ulemas council
\nexecutives and a group of businessmen led by Probosutedjo
\nattended the meeting.<\/p>\n
Hasan Basri told the meeting that he was worried by the recent
\npolitical riots which had swept the country. \"We, the ulemas, are
\ndeeply concerned by the riots in recent months. We worry that
\ncertain groups have blown up the disparity between the have and
\nhave-nots and attacked the conglomerates,\" Basri said.<\/p>\n
He told Soeharto that irresponsible groups had stirred up
\ncommunity jealousy to discredit the government and sow discord.<\/p>\n
Basri and Minister\/Cabinet Secretary Saadillah Mursjid were
\nrescued uninjured from the Kalimantan Selatan Hotel which was
\nburned by rioters last Friday. Both of them come from South
\nKalimantan.<\/p>\n
\"I saw with my own eyes how wild the rioters were, burning the
\nhotel. They could only have been organized by skilled people,\"
\nsaid Basri who was trapped inside the hotel for five hours with
\n59 other people.<\/p>\n
Afraid<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo told
\nthe public they would have nothing to fear when they left their
\nhomes for polling booths. \"It's safe,\" Dibyo said.<\/p>\n
About 178,000 police had been deployed for nationwide election
\nsecurity, Dibyo said. At least 28,000 police have been deployed
\nto secure polling stations in Jakarta and its surrounding cities
\nof Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi.<\/p>\n
One police officer, helped by six security guards, will guard
\nfour polling booths. One thousand three hundred personnel will be
\non standby at the City Police Headquarters and 9,000 military
\npersonnel will be ready to serve as reinforcements anywhere in
\nthe archipelago. (06\/pan\/23\/cst)<\/p>\n
More stories on Page 2 and Page 3<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-stresses-importance-of-voting-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }