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)

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