Hartono lashes out at former ministers

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs R. Hartono poured scorn on former cabinet members yesterday for criticizing President Soeharto, saying they would have resigned during their ministerial tenures if they had guts.

"They can talk now. Why didn't they convey the same message when they were still ministers. If they didn't agree with the policies then, why didn't they leave their office?" Hartono said.

Hartono was asked to comment on the criticism of President Soeharto and his policies by several former ministers, some of whom served two or three terms.

His response, in the wake of President Soeharto's plan to reshuffle his cabinet, came before the leaders of the House of Representatives announced their intention to ask the head of state to step down.

On his own future in view of the planned cabinet reshuffle, Hartono said: "I will continue with the task entrusted me by the President who was constitutionally elected."

Asked about the offer of resignation by Minister of Tourism, Art and Cultural Affairs Abdul Latief, Hartono said: "I refuse to comment."

Hartono said he had reported to President Soeharto about the political condition in the country following a spate of violent riots in Jakarta and several other regional towns.

He said the riots in Jakarta were provoked "by remnants of the PKI", the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party.

"Just look at the methods... these people were sent from Central Java and Lampung," he said. (prb/emb)