Hardiyanti asked to convey greetings for Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana brought radical change to Golkar's campaign yesterday by not promising supporters anything material.

Instead, she promised to convey the respects of thousands at a rally in Bali to her father, President Soeharto, and her newly- married brother Hutomo Mandala Putra.

"Please convey my greetings to Pak Harto. I hope God will give him the health and strength to do his state duties," a young female university student told Soeharto's eldest daughter, known as Tutut.

"Please pass on our congratulations to your younger brother for his marriage," the girl said at the rally at Debed field, about 20 kilometers west of the provincial capital Denpasar.

Hardiyanti, also a successful business woman, has been facing some tough questions about her family.

On Saturday in Sukoharjo, Central Java, she brushed off questions on the "Soeharto dynasty" which is tipped to occupy the Presidency and Vice Presidency in 1998.

"There's no such thing as a Soeharto dynasty," Hardiyanti was quoted by Republika as saying. "Such a perception is completely false. The Soeharto family doesn't have to be elected president or vice president."

It is a foregone conclusion that President Soeharto will be renominated for another term. Hardiyanti is emerging as a likely candidate for the vice presidency.

Back on the campaign trail yesterday, Golkar chief Harmoko was in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara. He told a rally that Golkar did not want immediate, radical change to the country's economic and political systems.

In Ruteng, East Nusa Tenggara, Golkar's Siswono Yudohusoda said Golkar did not consider the United Development party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) as enemies.

"Golkar tries to gain as many votes as possible, but never considers PPP or PDI as enemies," said Siswono, also the minister of transmigration.

Promise

In Yogyakarta on Saturday, Golkar, criticized for breaking its 1992 election promise to help local snake-skin fruit growers, made another promise.

At a rally in Turi, Sleman, about 20 kilometers north of the town, Golkar leader Soni Harsono promised to give free land title certificates to locals if Golkar wins all the district's votes in the May 29 election.

This time, he said, Golkar would keep its promise.

"Free land title certificates are waiting if Golkar wins 100 percent of the vote," he told about 5,000 people.

Soni, who is state minister of agrarian affairs and chairman of the National Land Agency, was responding to people's complaints that it took a lot of time and money to get the certificates.

Critics have said the red tape contradicts the government's campaign for people to register their property and gain land titles.

Golkar has also been criticized for failing to keep a 1992 election promise to buy snake-skin fruit seedlings worth more than Rp 38 million. Golkar won 72 percent of vote in 1992.

Twenty of the local growers, who received a Rp 975,000 down payment for the seedlings, are threatening to sue Golkar for breach of promise and have sought help from the Legal Aid Institute Yogyakarta branch.

Golkar and the farmers have agreed to an out-of-court settlement six months after the highly publicized row began. (38/har/ahy/pan/mds)