Soeharto's stand on cultism gains support<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto's refusal to be turned into a
\ncult figure received widespread support yesterday from
\nlegislators, military officials and political observers.<\/p>\n
Soeharto's stand was seen as a reflection of his democratic
\nnature by House Speaker Harmoko and his deputies -- Syarwan
\nHamid, Ismail Hasan Metareum and Fatimah Achmad -- and by
\npolitical observers Rudini and Amien Rais.<\/p>\n
"It shows us that President Soeharto is a person who abides by
\nthe constitution," Harmoko, also chairman of the dominant Golkar,
\ntold reporters after chairing a House general session yesterday.<\/p>\n
Syarwan, deputy House Speaker of the Armed Forces (ABRI)
\nfaction, shared Harmoko's view.<\/p>\n
"Pak Harto is a democrat. He'll never be authoritarian and
\nwill always comply with the laws," he said.<\/p>\n
Ismail, deputy House Speaker of the United Development Party
\n(PPP) faction, said Soeharto always complied with democratic
\nvalues.<\/p>\n
"Pak Harto always plays according to the rules," he said.<\/p>\n
Deputy House Speaker of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nfaction, Fatimah, said the campaign showed Soeharto's modest
\nattitude.<\/p>\n
"It shows us his statesmanship as a leading figure," she said.<\/p>\n
Rudini, chairman of the Institute for Strategic Studies of
\nIndonesia, an informal military think tank, shared the
\nlegislators' opinion.<\/p>\n
"President Soeharto has always been democratic in his words
\nand actions," he said after addressing local newspaper editors at
\nthe office of the ABRI Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs yesterday.<\/p>\n
Amien, political observer of the Gadjah Mada University, in
\nYogyakarta, said President Soeharto's statement indicated that he
\nwas a realistic person.<\/p>\n
"The President has clearly told us his stance. And it is not
\nhis mistake if people still see him as a cult figure," Amien
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The legislators and political observers were commenting on
\nSoeharto's remarks Tuesday that the nation should not turn him
\ninto a cult figure because it was against religious teachings.<\/p>\n
Soeharto dismissed the allegation of political engineering
\nbehind his election as the country's president, saying that he
\nwas able to lead the nation because people trusted him as their
\nhead of state.<\/p>\n
A former minister of home affairs, Rudini, said yesterday that
\nSoeharto's statement should be seen as a warning about the risk
\nattached to electing a person of his age.<\/p>\n
"We (people) all must consider that age is an important factor
\nin leading a country. And he (Soeharto) realizes that he is not
\nyoung any more," he said.<\/p>\n
Rudini said the election mechanism would follow the
\nestablished criteria and Soeharto must meet the criteria if
\nreelected.<\/p>\n
"But President Soeharto is not to blame if he is reelected,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Harmoko said Soeharto's statement had nothing to do with
\nGolkar's premature commitment to renominate the incumbent
\npresident in next year's presidential election, due to take place
\nin March.<\/p>\n
"If the people want him (Soeharto) to be reelected, why should
\nwe object to their wish? And Golkar remains committed to
\nrenominating him next year," Harmoko said.<\/p>\n
Supporting Harmoko, Syarwan said: "If Soeharto is reelected,
\nit is merely on rational grounds."<\/p>\n
Ismail said he was not sure that President Soeharto was
\nunwilling to be reelected.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Fatimah returned the question of Soeharto's
\nreelection to the people.<\/p>\n
"Ask the people why they have only elected the same person all
\nthis time," she said. (imn\/23)<\/p>",
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