ABRI hails national coalition proposal

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)