Ibrahim Saleh supports Soeharto-Habibie

Ibrahim Saleh supports Soeharto-Habibie

JAKARTA (JP): Ibrahim Saleh, a man who shot to prominence 10
years ago for disrupting the 1988 General Session, visited the
People's Consultative Assembly yesterday extolling the virtues of
interruption.

The retired brigadier general, who served three times in the
Armed Forces before he was dismissed following the incident, also
said he supported the candidacies of Soeharto and B.J. Habibie as
the 1998/2003 president and vice president.

Ibrahim appeared at the Assembly building's media center
wearing a tag which identified him as an "observer". He brought
with him a bag of leaflets, including one which discussed at
length the Assembly members' right to interrupt a session.

"Those who prohibit members from interrupting a meeting are
wrong," he said. "Imagine if those who interrupted a session were
branded rebellious and threatened to be dismissed. Interrupting a
session is the right of an Assembly member."

He said Assembly members were now pressured so they would not
disrupt the gathering, despite the differences simmering among
them.

Ibrahim served as an Armed Forces legislator for 10 months
during the 1977/1982 period, for 24 months during the 1982/1987
period, and 11 months during the 1987/1992 period.

During the 1988 General Session, which had just reelected
President Soeharto for the 1988/1993 term, Ibrahim suddenly
interrupted and, without acknowledgment from then chairman M.
Kharis Suhud, took the podium.

He attempted to air his views against the nomination of
Sudharmono as the vice president, but was cut off and led away
from the podium by then Armed Forces faction chief Harsudiono
Hartas.

The session, however, had dissolved into confusion and
Ibrahim's attempt to dissent had left a mark which makes current
Assembly leaders wary about differences of opinion. (pan/swe/amd)