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)