Soeharto warns of revolution to replace state ideology<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto appealed yesterday to the
\nnation for vigilance, saying that some people are trying to
\nreplace the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution
\nthrough a revolution.<\/p>\n
\"They are exploiting poverty and social disparity problems to
\nstart a revolution,\" Soeharto said, reported Antara.<\/p>\n
The President spoke without a text during a meeting with
\nhundreds of wealthy Indonesians invited to the Presidential
\nPalace in Bogor, south of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He reminded his guests that they owed their wealth not only to
\ntheir hard labor but more to the New Order administration's
\ndevelopment policies.<\/p>\n
Soeharto cited the riot in Jakarta on July 27 as the latest
\nattempt by certain people to replace the state ideology.<\/p>\n
\"We have to be firm when dealing with them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"They thought that the people had become sick of the situation
\nand had grown to mistrust the government. But as recent events
\nshowed, such a belief is neither prevalent, nor does it have any
\nroots.\"<\/p>\n
Dozens of activists, including labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan,
\nare currently being interrogated by the authorities in connection
\nwith the riot. Muchtar and Budiman Sudjatmiko, the chairman of
\nthe officially unrecognized Democratic People's Party (PRD), have
\nbeen charged with subversion, an offense punishable by death.<\/p>\n
The military has said that PRD resembles the outlawed
\nIndonesian Communist Party in structure and method.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said those who provoked the riot tried to take
\nadvantage of the increasing political openness and liberty
\nallowed by the government.<\/p>\n
They were pushing for reforms in the hope that they could
\nestablish a new political party, he said. \"These people don't
\nunderstand. It is they who should adapt (to the law).\"<\/p>\n
\"The Armed Forces (ABRI), consistent to its oath, had no
\nchoice but to defend Pancasila. ABRI is the chief supporter of
\nthe New Order in defending Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution,\"
\nsaid the retired Army general and now supreme chief of ABRI.<\/p>\n
This is not a \"security approach\"; this is ABRI dedicating its
\nservices to the nation, he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said Indonesia had a traumatic experience with a
\nmultiparty system in the 1950s. There was no stability because a
\ngovernment had a very short life span, one even lasting a month
\nwhile the longest served for only two years.<\/p>\n
This is the reason why the New Order simplified the political
\nsystem into two political parties and Golkar, he said. The
\ngovernment has succeeded in making Pancasila the only recognized
\nideology for social and political organizations, he said.<\/p>\n
Reminding the wealthy Indonesians of their \"moral\" obligation
\nto helping the poorer members of society, Soeharto renewed his
\nappeal that they set aside a small part of their income.<\/p>\n
\"These people have become well-off not because of their genes,
\nbut because of the New Order's successful development,\" he said,
\nadding that \"their hard work would have been meaningless were it
\nnot for the stability that the government helped create.\"<\/p>\n
The meeting was intended to brief the wealthy citizens on the
\nprogress of the work of the Self-reliant Prosperity Fund, founded
\nearly this year to raise money from wealthy citizens and passed
\non as loans to poor people. The fund is chaired by the President.<\/p>\n
The President has issued a decree appealing to individuals and
\ncorporations whose after-tax incomes exceed Rp 100 million
\n($43,500) a year to give 2 percent to the fund.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that by yesterday only half of the people who
\nearn that much have joined in the endeavor.<\/p>\n
The fund, which has accumulated to Rp 321 billion by Sept. 12,
\nis from 3,441 corporate taxpayers and 2,082 individuals. In
\ncontrast, the Ministry of Finance says there are 6,472
\ncorporations and 4,553 individuals who earn in excess of Rp 100
\nmillion after tax.<\/p>\n
\"I'd really like to know why only half of them have chipped
\nin. If they have problems, I'd be glad to help. The Directorate
\nGeneral of Tax will also help if these businesspeople have
\ndifficulties calculating their tax,\" Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
\"While you still have a soul in your body, you should give
\nsomething in this life. The fund is giving you a chance to help
\nthe poor,\" he said. \"It is not obligatory, but as human beings,
\nyou should feel obliged,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Present at yesterday's meeting were a number of cabinet
\nministers and corporate leaders and individuals who have given
\ntheir share. They include Sudono Salim, Sudwikatmono, Bambang
\nTrihatmodjo, Anthony Salim, Eka Tjipta Widjaja, Mohammad (Bob)
\nHassan, Rachman Halim, Usman Admadjaja, Tommy Soeharto, Titiek
\nPrabowo, Siti Hutami Adiningsih, Ibrahim Risjad and Sukamdani
\nSahid Gitosardjono. (emb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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