Harmoko's announcement brings cheers

Harmoko's announcement brings cheers

JAKARTA (JP): Yes! This is how many people reacted yesterday
when asked to comment about the plan of the House of
Representatives (DPR) leadership to urge President Soeharto to
step down.

The instant cheers, however, were quickly followed by worries
about who would succeed Soeharto and events that might happen
during a possible handover. Some did not even believe what House
Speaker Harmoko announced.

Here are their comments:

Debora Ratna Priyanti, 29, an architect in East Jakarta:
Hurray! You see, it's been so boring to have never had another
president other than Soeharto. It would be better for my son to
have a different president.

Marine private Syamsuddin -- not his real name (speaking from
his tank in a business center in Central Jakarta): What? They
asked Soeharto to step down? I can't believe it. Well if that's
so, I feel relieved because at least it would cool down the
rallies. So, I can have some rest.

Arbi Sanit, political observer at the University of Indonesia:
The conflicting statements from Harmoko and the Minister of
Defense/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto reflect a serious
rift among the country's ruling elite. It also reflects that this
regime is soon going to fall since its political machine that has
worked so well for more than 30 years is not working anymore.
Even those most loyal to him (President Soeharto) have now left
him. The question for the nation is who will be the upcoming
leader and whether he will punish the current regime for what it
did.

Edi, a fried rice seller at Palmerah, West Jakarta: I think
Soeharto needs to rest. He is old enough and might be already
senile. We have enough young and bright people to lead this
country.

Second Lt. Edi Hartono (not his real name), a Jakarta police
special squad officer: I feel glad with the House's demand for
Soeharto to step down. Finally they do something good for the
people. But honestly, in this situation, I don't think Pak Harto
(the President) will give up easily. What if this is just another
booby trap, even worse, more lies to curb the people's movement?
Whatever the decision might be, I'm just an officer. I'll do what
my superiors order me to do. But as an Indonesian citizen, I hope
that this is a sign of change. I hope we can eventually have a
wise and just leader other than Soeharto.

Agus Gede Mahendra, a student activist from University of
Indonesia: Frankly speaking, we have to check first whether
Harmoko passed the decision through the right procedures to
produce and issue that statement. For we all know, if the
procedure is not constitutional, then the statement is
meaningless.

About the successor, I admit that I don't have any names. The
choice now should be returned to the people.

If (Vice President) B.J. Habibie proceeds to preside over the
country, I can't say anything other than we'll see what the
people say.

Kamser Sitanggang, a leader of the Indonesian Christian
Student Movement in Medan: Habibie to be elected as president? I
don't think that it would solve the problem because the people
have lost faith in this cabinet. As for the DPR demand for
Soeharto to back down, we agree to that! But all members of the
House must soon stick together to state their opinion.

Sumarji, an angkot (public minivan) driver in Tangerang: I'm
very happy with the news that we're going to have a new president
so there will be changes. I hope the People's Consultative
Assembly will elect Amien Rais.

Tati Sri Winarti, an employee of a foreign institution: I feel
totally relieved and confused as well. This nation has not had a
succession for decades and hasn't prepared for a new leadership.

Endang Nurdin, an Indonesian working as a reporter at a
foreign radio station in London: It's a release for us here. It's
the people's demand that triggered the recent riots which raised
our concerns here for our family there. (His successor?) It's a
big and open question. Temporarily, Amien Rais could be the right
figure as he has been quite consistently urging Soeharto to step
down.

Tajudin Saleh, a street trader in Tangerang: I have been tired
of the way things are and want significant change. I'll vote for
Try Sutrisno (former vice president). He's a soldier, close to
the people and has no family interests. His son, for example, is
just a police officer.

Oyon, a morgue employee at Cipto Mangunkusumo General
Hospital: Why not be glad? He has to step down anyway, that's
what people want. His aides and cabinet have to be dismissed. To
be honest, I'm confused as to who will succeed him.

Advendi Simangunsong, chairperson of the Trisakti University
pension fund: Personally, I'm happy to hear it, but at the same
time I feel uneasy. I'm afraid there will be more victims and
riots if something goes wrong with the leadership handover. As a
member of the Trisakti University reformation student movement, I
think we can't just stop at this point. This isn't the end.

M. Jusuf Ronodipuro, former Indonesian ambassador to Chili and
Uruguay in the 1970s: It's the best thing that the DPR has done
after all this time. And I'm optimistic about the successor since
there are over 200 million people here. Why do we have
difficulties in naming a person to lead us?

Karmin, 18, a street food seller in Central Jakarta: Well, if
Pak Harto wants to step down or if the people ask him to do so
it's normal because I think he's already too old. He cannot stay
in power forever. Why not step aside and let the younger ones
lead this country. All I want, whoever becomes president, is a
better life, such as cheap food prices and conditions in which I
can make money for a living.

Eko Purwono, a lecturer of architecture at the Bandung
Institute of Technology: This happy news should not be claimed by
other groups who want to take advantage of the situation. It's
usual that in a struggle, when we almost reach our target, a lot
of people will claim to have participated in that struggle. Yet,
don't forget that those who started this are the students.

Ahmad Muhibbuddin, chairman of the student senate at Syarif
Hidayatullah State Islamic Institute (IAIN) in Ciputat, South
Jakarta: Personally, I don't think it's politically engineered.
But I do believe that it was the student movement which succeeded
in pushing Harmoko to talk like that to his 'father'.

Students will surely continue their movement because it is not
merely aimed at requesting Soeharto to step aside but at cleaning
up this ruling regime. So Soeharto's resignation is only part of
the process.

Richard Sidabutar, a student activist at St. Thomas Catholic
University in Medan, North Sumatra: It's about time for Soeharto
to hand over his crown. He's already too old. But we are not sure
about this news. What if it is some kind of game? We could not
just swallow and support the demand. We have to analyze it first.
Besides, people know that many things in this country, such as
elections and MPR assemblies, are engineered.

Andri (not a real name), a student leader from University of
Indonesia: I wonder if Harmoko really meant what he said. We
would face a difficult situation if Habibie replaces Soeharto,
because I believe that as long as the government keeps the same
people in the cabinet, collusion, corruption and nepotism will
never fade from this country.

Soemitra Soerachmat, a commissioner of PT Timor Putra
Nasional, the controversial sedan producer controlled by
Soeharto's son Hutomo (Tommy) Mandala Putra: I have no comment at
this time. I'm not a politician. Let the House do it. Whatever
the result, it must be the best for the unity of this nation.
(bsr/ivy/aan/emf/edt/21/41/43)