I'am no copy of Soeharto: Habibie

I'am no copy of Soeharto: Habibie

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie yesterday rebuked
suggestions that he was a mere shadow of his predecessor,
Soeharto, and asserted that he was not a photocopy of the former
president.

"I am not a photocopy of the previous president... That's
nonsense," Habibie remarked during a meeting with 43 chief
editors from the Indonesian media.

Responding to a suggestion that many still regard him as the
shadow of Soeharto, Habibie contended that his three-month old
government had made some "encouraging achievements" despite its
brief tenure.

He claimed that progress had been made toward restoring
respect for human rights, speeding up democratization and taming
rampant inflation.

Habibie also noted that he had apologized to the nation for
past human rights abuses, including those that occurred in May.

Yesterday, the 100th day of Habibie's presidency, was the
second time he has met with chief editors. The first meeting was
held on June 6.

While there was no formal commemoration of the notable date,
yesterday's meeting was viewed by many as a way of marking his
centenary of days in office.

"We want to get inputs from you," he told the editors.

Habibie was sworn in as President on May 21 after Soeharto
abruptly announced his resignation.

Having been a loyal minister to Soeharto for 20 years, many
continue to doubt whether Habibie is capable of fulfilling the
hopes and aspirations of the country's reform movement.

There also continues to be lingering debate over the
legitimacy of his government.

Habibie told editors yesterday that it may be wise to cease
the polemic on the legacy of his government, since it would only
worsen the country's already dire economic situation.

"Let's not confuse the people (about this issue)," he said to
loud coughs of apparent disbelief from the floor.

PDI

One area in which many have seen Habibie as merely emulating
Soeharto's policies has been on the issue surrounding the divided
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Habibie yesterday defended his stance on the PDI and said he
was pursuing current policy in order to abide by the 1945
Constitution and the law, not because he wanted to continue with
his predecessor's policy.

"Please do not misunderstand us, and consider us to be the
same as the previous (government)," Habibie said.

Habibie's government has maintained the preceding government's
stance of steadfastly recognizing Soerjadi's leadership of the
PDI, who was replaced as party chairman on Wednesday by Budi
Hardjono in a vote held at a congress in Palu, Central Sulawesi.

Habibie had initially planned to open the Palu congress but
instead sent Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid as his
representative.

Soerjadi ousted then party leader Megawati Soekarnoputri in a
government engineered congress in 1996.

Megawati, however, has continued with her fight for
acknowledgement as the rightful leader of the party to this day.

While still refusing to recognize her leadership, Habibie's
government has shown a more lax attitude toward Megawati's
activities and has urged the two factions in the party to settle
their differences.

Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung was quick to
acknowledge the results of the Palu congress, once again showing
the government's determination to support Megawati's rivals in
the party.

During the first weeks of his presidency, Habibie did make an
attempt to approach Megawati by inviting her to a meeting, saying
that it was a reflection of his respect for her bloodline as
daughter of the country's founding father, Sukarno.

However Megawati said she was too busy to meet him and turned
down the offer.

During yesterday's meeting with the editors, Habibie was
accompanied by the Cabinet's four coordinating ministers and
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, Minister of Information
Mohammad Yunus and Minister of Justice Muladi.

However Habibie dominated the meeting almost from start to
finish, talking almost non-stop and pausing only to take
questions from four editors.

The two-hour meeting was apparently too exhausting for many in
attendance. Alatas and Muladi tried valiantly to fight off
drowsiness, but ultimately failed, and some editors were openly
yawning.

The meeting was originally scheduled to start at 3 p.m., but
was delayed for an hour because Habibie was attending the opening
of the Association of Indonesian Songwriters and Recording Music
Arrangers (PAPPRI).

Apologizing for the delay, Habibie proudly told the editors
that an historical watershed had just been passed.

"For the first time that I can remember, dangdut music was
performed at the State Palace, Habibie said referring to the
Congress' opening ceremony. "That is proof of reform," he said in
jest. (prb)