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)