Greater economic equality promised to cooperatives

Greater economic equality promised to cooperatives

JAKARTA (JP): About 70,000 cooperative members and children
attending the colorful ceremony marking the 52nd Cooperatives Day
at Senayan Sports Stadium on Monday received promises from
President B.J. Habibie they would enjoy greater economic
equality.

VIP guests, including top officials and dignitaries, received
the same promises plus a box of snacks which was placed on their
respective seats. Other guests had to buy snacks from vendors and
some of them jostled for the VIPs' leftovers.

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Cooperatives Adi
Sasono, making his first public appearance after a bout of ill
health, and controversial Indonesian Cooperatives Council
(Dekopin) chairman Nurdin Halid.

"Cooperatives' goals are identical with national economic
development objectives, namely to create prosperity and justice.
Therefore cooperatives must have a central place in development,"
Habibie said during his speech.

He highlighted recent signs of economic improvement, including
the drastic drop in inflation and interest rates since last year,
when economic growth was negative.

"It shows that we have left the lowest point of the economic
crisis and have begun to enter the stage of economic recovery,"
he said.

Dozens of people suddenly applauded after this remark. Habibie
glanced to his side, seeking the source of the applause. As it
turned out, the clapping was directed toward a small boy who
succeeded in launching a paper plane.

"We are just villagers from Cilacap (Central Java), we do not
understand the President's speech," a farmer told a journalist
seated next to him.

The ceremony was also attended by First Lady Hasri Ainun
Habibie and a number of Cabinet ministers.

Nurdin, who led the ceremony, reported to the President that
no less than 21 million cooperatives demanded justice from the
government for the 32 years of neglect they suffered under the
Soeharto regime.

"We were patient for 32 years. That's enough. Now is the time
for the Indonesian Cooperatives Movement to stand up and fight
economic injustices," Nurdin said.

The Ujungpandang District Court acquitted Nurdin of
embezzlement charges in March. Prosecutors had requested the
charges be dropped, saying there was not enough evidence to
support accusations that Nurdin had embezzled Rp 115.77 billion
(US$12 million) from farmers' compulsory accounts at a local
cooperative center which acted as the sole buyer from village
cooperatives in South Sulawesi.

Nurdin was once known as a close associate of former president
Soeharto's son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra. He is also a member
of the ruling Golkar faction in the House of Representatives and
is seeking reelection.

His acquittal was linked by some to his close relationship
with then attorney general Andi M. Ghalib.

Ghalib, who recently stepped aside as attorney general
following allegations he had abused his power to enrich himself
and his family, confirmed his friendship with Nurdin, but denied
he used his influence to win an acquittal for Nurdin.

Despite the controversy, Nurdin was unanimously elected head
of Dekopin in April.

"On behalf of the conscience of cooperatives members, I call
on (the people) to exercise control and resist material
desire ... in welcoming the 21st century," Nurdin said during
Monday's ceremony.

The 1945 Constitution states cooperatives, along with private
and state enterprises, are the country's main economic pillars.

However, due to persistent mismanagement, cooperatives have
been marginalized in the country's economic structure.

"The President has shown his strong commitment to promote
cooperatives," Adi Sasono said during the ceremony.

Adi looked fit after returning from Singapore, where he
underwent a medical checkup last Sunday. He was hospitalized soon
after the elections.

One of Adi's associates said the minister's "old health
problem" had flared up, but a source close to Habibie said Adi
was shocked by the poor showing of the People's Sovereignty Party
(PDR) in the polls. The party, which named Adi its presidential
candidate, did not win a single seat in the House of
Representatives.

After the President's address, the audience was entertained by
a group of dancers who performed several traditional dances,
including the Seudati from Aceh.

"This is a DOM (Military Operation Region) dance," a young
woman whispered to her friend. She was referring to the fact that
Aceh was under a decade-long military operation until last year.

The dance itself depicted people's determination to fight for
their economic rights through cooperatives.

Dangdut singer Rhoma Irama also entertained the crowd.(prb)