Check again on mass support: Soeharto

Check again on mass support: Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto urged the ruling Golkar to
ensure that the people really support his renomination for the
1998/2003 presidency because he did not want to be seen as
hampering leadership succession.

"We still have five months (until the March presidential
election) to check whether (the people's trust exists)," he said
in an off-the-cuff remark after delivering an address at Golkar's
33rd anniversary reception here last night.

Speaking in his capacity as the ruling organization's chief
patron, Soeharto was responding to Golkar's announcement minutes
earlier that it was renominating him for another term of office.

Soeharto said he wanted to be sure that people were not forced
to support him.

"I hope their trust is not a pseudo one because if so I could
be accused of (being someone who's) obstructing succession, an
obstacle to the regeneration process," he said. "I could also be
accused of being a complacent Golkar cadre, (accused of being
dissatisfied with) being a president for six terms and now
wanting a seventh term."

Soeharto's audience of some 5,000 people was apparently moved
by his search for assurance that they immediately responded to
many of his remarks.

When he said: "Is it really true that the renomination is a
reflection of people's trust for me?", some in the audience
yelled: "It's true!"

Soeharto was first elected President in 1968 by the
Provisional People's Consultative Assembly and then reelected for
five consecutive terms.

His current term will expire in March next year and the 1,000-
strong People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will meet to elect a
president and vice president.

Golkar chairman Harmoko said earlier in the reception that
Golkar was certain that "the nation's best son, who fulfills all
the criteria as president for the 1998/2003 term, is Haji
Muhammad Soeharto."

The audience, which included Vice President Try Sutrisno and
his wife Tuti along with representatives of the ruling political
parties from friendly countries, cheered and gave a standing
ovation for the smiling President.

"You see Pak, the people gave a standing ovation for one
minute," Harmoko said. The audience then gave Soeharto another
standing ovation for about 30 seconds.

Soeharto indicated that even when he was no longer leading the
country, he would still play a role in helping the people and the
future government.

He cited the role of pandita (the sage or pundit) in the
wayang shadow puppet stories who was a spiritual leader and
helped the real leader prabu (king).

"My duty now is to get closer to God, take care of my
children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren... give advice
to people and to tut wuri handayani (guide from behind) the next
leader ruling the country, developing it into a prosperous and
safe country," Soeharto said.

In another part of his speech, Harmoko said the political
organization was not turning Soeharto into a cult figure by
renominating him for the 1998/2003 presidency.

"The decision to renominate the incumbent President, reached
at the (just concluded) Golkar leadership meeting, is by no means
an (act to turn Soeharto into an) individual cult. Instead, it is
the manifestation of the people's aspirations and will," Harmoko
asserted.

Heeding people's aspirations and will is part of democracy and
the upholding of people's sovereignty, he said.

He then asked those present to bless Soeharto with physical
and spiritual strength to lead the country for another term of
office.

He said Golkar wanted the presidential election to be held in
accordance with the 1945 Constitution.

Among the criteria set by the organization is the requirement
that its presidential candidate be a devout person, one who has
the ability to unite the nation, is wise and has the courage to
make decisions when difficult times are facing the country.

In his official speech, the President said he hoped that
Golkar would maintain the people's deep trust and support for it
and to enhance its efforts to defend their interests.

"Golkar has indeed become deeply rooted in the mind of
people ... such a great trust should hopefully make all members
of Golkar's rank and file and particularly Golkar members in the
House of Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly to
untiringly strive to serve the people's interests," he said.

Earlier in the reception, Golkar legislator Marwah Daud
Ibrahim read the organization's political statement. The
organization promised, for instance, to ensure that the people's
aspirations are included in the 1998/2003 Guidelines of State
Policies. (prb/imn/swe)

Editorial -- Page 4