Tycoons support Habibie<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The country's top conglomerates demonstrated
\ntheir support for President B.J. Habibie yesterday and said they
\nwere encouraged by his commitment to protect all Indonesian
\ncitizens, including those of Chinese descent.<\/p>\n
Property tycoon Ciputra said they assured the president that
\nin their view, Indonesia's future remained very promising despite
\nthe current turmoil, and promised they would do their utmost to
\nhelp him rebuild the economy.<\/p>\n
The President reiterated the government's plan to ratify the
\nUnited Nations anti-discrimination convention to lay the
\nfoundations for campaigns to banish the issue from Indonesian
\nsociety in the future, Ciputra said.<\/p>\n
\"We have been hoping for that for a long time, (the convention
\nwill ensure equality so that) we can eat together with you.
\nWe... are very happy that President Habibie promised to put it
\ninto law,\" Ciputra told the media after meeting with Habibie at
\nthe Bina Graha presidential office along with the heads of 10
\nother conglomerates.<\/p>\n
Also invited to the meeting were William Soeryadjaya, the
\nformer owner of Astra group; Suharso Gondokusumo; The Nin King,
\nthe head of Argo Pantes Manunggal; Modern Group's Samadikun
\nHartono; and Kaharudin Ongko.<\/p>\n
Murdaya Widyawimarta, Budi Brasali, Subentra's Benny Suherman,
\nWiely Sugiharto, and Soejono Varinata from Djajanti Group were
\nalso invited.<\/p>\n
Habibie used the meeting to exchange views on development
\nstrategies and to listen to their complaints.<\/p>\n
He regularly meets with business leaders, including foreign
\ninvestors, and usually invites them to be frank in their
\nstatements.<\/p>\n
\"We discussed the security problem related to our exports and
\nthen the creation of job opportunities,\" Ciputra said.<\/p>\n
Tens of thousands of Chinese-Indonesians reportedly fled after
\nthe May riots which forced president Soeharto to step down and
\nhand the presidency to Habibie.<\/p>\n
About 1,200 people were killed during the riots. More than 160
\nwomen, mostly Chinese-Indonesians, were raped during the unrest
\nthat some observers believe was triggered by organized groups of
\npeople.<\/p>\n
Habibie has agreed to set up an independent committee to
\ninvestigate the incident.<\/p>\n
Habibie has also appealed for Chinese-Indonesians to return to
\nthe country and has guaranteed their security.<\/p>\n
However, in an interview with the Washington Post last week,
\nHabibie warned that they might lose out on business opportunities
\nif they did not return soon.<\/p>\n
\"If the Chinese community does not come back because they do
\nnot trust their own country and society, I can not force them,
\nnobody can force them...But do you really think that we will then
\ndie?\" he asked rhetorically.<\/p>\n
The statement sparked controversy. Several observers said the
\nremark would only worsen the current situation.<\/p>\n
\"On May 14 (the peak of the riots), confidence was at a low
\nebb but it has now begun to grow again,\" Ciputra noted.<\/p>\n
\"After the general election in May 1999 the country's economy
\nwill take off again,\" Ciputra added.<\/p>\n
Murdaya, however, complained that the problem of looting,
\nincluding the plundering of export containers that has emerged in
\nthe aftermath of the riots had not yet been fully resolved.<\/p>\n
\"Our production costs have become very competitive as a result
\nof the weakening rupiah... (We could take advantage of this)
\nprovided we can guarantee domestic security and if our containers
\nare not looted,\" Murdaya noted.<\/p>\n
William also gave some concrete advise to Habibie. He said
\ntourism was one of the most lucrative businesses and could be
\nimproved if the government allowed charter planes to fly directly
\ninto Bali and Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Then tourists would no longer have to go to Bali or
\nYogyakarta via Jakarta or Solo,\" he said. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tycoons-support-habibie-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}