ABRI hails national coalition proposal

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs, Lt. Gen. Yunus Yosfiah, said yesterday the proposed coalition for political reform would only be welcomed if it was aimed at securing the economy and not at creating instability.

"People are not prohibited from having opinions on state matters, which are different from the government," he said.

Yunus said he had not seen any indication that the coalition would disrupt political stability.

"I still cannot see the threats of the coalition to the country's political stability as the coalition is yet to be established," he said. "We should just wait for further development of the proposal."

The proposal for a political coalition was suggested by politician and chairman of the 28-million strong Muhammadiyah Moslem organization, Amien Rais.

Amien said Tuesday that calls for reform would be more effective if Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), and Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of the 30-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization, united in a rally for reform to settle the monetary crisis.

Speaking about the proposal for a national dialog, Yunus suggested that the dialog should be organized by the House of Representatives (DPR).

"Only the DPR, which has the authority to claim it represents all elements in society, can do that," he said. "I doubt that the dialog, if organized by any institution other than the DPR, will include all elements."

Chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) Ismail Hasan Metareum welcomed a national dialog intended to ease the mounting economic crisis, saying it was a necessary breakthrough to live up to public expectations.

He said the dialog should involve non-government institutions or even government critics.

"The government should listen to advice from everybody, as long as it is intended to help Indonesia out of the crisis," he said.

Golkar deputy chairwoman Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana said such a dialog, if it happened, would only bear some fruit.

"In my opinion, the dialog occurred during election rallies (last year), in which we met and talked to people, more appropriate. Therefore, to let the people's representatives in the legislative bodies deliberate the people's aspirations," she said.

Hardiyanti, President Soeharto's eldest daughter, said she would support the idea to hold the so-called national dialog, as long as it did not break the law or the constitution.

Nomination

In a separate development, the deputy chairman of the Golkar faction, Abdul Ghafur, said yesterday that no single faction in the People's Consultative Assembly had the capability to force President Soeharto to step down.

"We know Pak Harto as a man who cannot be forced to do or not do something," said Ghafur after meeting with Vice President Try Sutrisno at Merdeka Selatan Palace.

Ghafur, who is also deputy speaker of the Assembly, said Golkar would also not force Soeharto to accept his renomination as president.

"History recorded how Soeharto turned down an offer from the Assembly to elect him as the President in 1967. But as a fighter he eventually accept the task," Ghafur said.

Ghafur recalled how Soeharto asked Golkar in October not to be too hurried in renominating him.

"We appreciate his attitude. However Golkar in its recent leadership meeting decided again to renominate him," Ghafur said. (imn/amd/prb)