Anti-reformists to get Soeharto Awards

JAKARTA (JP): The executive body of the University of Indonesia Students launched on Friday a poll to decide which individuals, groups or institutions deserved the Soeharto Award for being antireform and defenders of the New Order.

"We will give the awards to any person, group or institution which is pro-status quo and antireform," the president of the executive body, Bachtiar Firdaus, said at the university's campus in Salemba, Central Jakarta.

He said the awards were named after Soeharto, who resigned on May 21 last year amid mass protests and bloody riots, because the former president was believed to have hindered and obstructed efforts to enact changes during his 32 years in power.

The poll, which runs until May 26, will give people the opportunity to participate in the reform movement.

This will enable the people to choose those suitable for the award, he said. "We'll let the public decide."

A number of factors have impeded the reform movement, including the absence of law and order, the allotment of 38 nonelected seats in the House of Representatives to the military and the large number of New Order institutions which acted as if there were proreform, he said.

"The Soeharto Awards are meant to make all parties engage in a little introspection -- to think whether they are really reformists or if they are just hindering reform," he said.

Bachtiar said the poll was being conducted in cooperation with a polling agency.

Those interested in taking part in the poll can phone 0809178195 or 08092130999 or they can obtain a form from the executive body, he said.

He said those participating in the poll would be asked to answer two questions: who deserves the award and why.

The results of the poll will be made public, Bachtiar said. (01/hhr)