Military urges support for President Habibie

Military urges support for President Habibie

JAKARTA (JP): The nation shows increasing signs of
polarization over the presidency of B.J. Habibie and his cabinet,
with the Armed Forces (ABRI) urging people to support him, while
government critics are calling for his dismissal.

Groups as varied as the Petisi 50 association of government
critics to the Forum of Santri (students of Islamic boarding
schools) for Development competed in issuing statements
supporting or criticizing Habibie, who took the presidential oath
only seconds after president Soeharto quit the position Thursday.

Some groups held media briefings, while others sent statements
to the media to make their stance known.

ABRI urged the people Saturday to support Habibie's commitment
to comprehensive reforms.

"Let us support and give President B.J. Habibie a chance to
continue comprehensive reforms by creating a secure and peaceful
situation," the head of ABRI's information service, Brig. Gen.
Abdul Wahab Mokodongan, told a media conference.

The President is determined to carry out reforms in stages and
ABRI hopes the people will support the endeavor, he said.

The President is aware Indonesia has only a short time to
shake off its bankruptcies and food shortages, he said.
"Therefore, we must ... take concrete steps which require the
people's support in a peaceful situation," he said.

More support for Habibie came from various quarters, including
the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI) and the Irian Jaya branch of
the Association of Christian Churches of Indonesia (GKI). Signed
by chairman Basyuni Suriamiharja, the statement from PGRI also
said it supported ABRI's call for the return of national
stability.

Signed by chairman Herman Saud, GKI's statement called on the
Christian community to give Habibie time to prove that he would
work for reform, and that he was willing to "embrace" all groups
in the country.

"If he fails, then he should resign," Saud was quoted by
Antara as saying. He added that, on behalf of 500,000
congregations in the province, GKI wished to thank former
president Soeharto for his services to the country.

Similar support was voiced for Habibie by the community of
Parepare in South Sulawesi, the new President's birthplace, and
the Association of Indonesian Moslem Students (HMI) in Southeast
Sulawesi.

"We are proud that a child of Parepare ... has now become
president and belongs to all people," said the chairman of the
provincial branch of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI), Muis
Kabry.

Some religious organizations, including Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
and the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), also issued
statements calling for a clean government and national unity.

Opponents

Among those who counted themselves opponents of the new
President were the Coalition of Indonesian Environmental Lawyers,
the Coalition of Indonesian Women for Justice and Democracy, the
Alumni of the University of Indonesia and the Indonesian Legal
Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI).

The environmental lawyers said Habibie, while he was state
minister of research and technology under Soeharto's
administration, had launched hi-tech projects at the expense of
the environment. "Habibie had then convinced Soeharto to issue a
presidential decree to finance his projects with the funds of the
people, including those for environmental protection as well as
foreign loans," the group charged.

In 1992, a reforestation fund was allocated to aircraft
manufacturer IPTN, which Habibie headed, to develop Indonesian
aircraft.

"Because of the forceful allocation of environmental and
reforestation funds ... we found that we did not have enough
money to handle last year's forest fires and restore the damaged
environment," the group added.

The group of lawyers also accused Habibie of nepotism for
bypassing proper procedures and making his own son a high-ranking
civil servant at IPTN. The group's statement was signed by, among
others, Nursyahbani Katjasungkana.

PHBI called Habibie a part of Soeharto's regime and that, in
accordance with the people's demand for total reform, he should
immediately resign.

"We reject his appointment and we are taking the students'
side in their fight for total reform, which is the prerequisite
for democratization here," the organization said in a statement
signed by chairman Hendardi.

The Coalition of Indonesian Women for Justice and Democracy
also rejected Habibie and his cabinet, which they charged did not
represent Indonesia's diversity of religions, ethnic groups and
social classes.

The group -- an alliance of 98 women organizations in various
cities, including The Hague, Jakarta, Leiden, Melbourne and
Washington -- also called for the establishment of an independent
team to investigate the wealth allegedly amassed by Soeharto, his
family and cronies.

Petisi 50, an association of staunch Soeharto critics, said
that Soeharto did not have any right to appoint his successor.
The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has the authority, the
group said in a statement signed by, among others, Ali Sadikin.

Habibie is inseparable from a regime rife with corruption,
collusion and nepotism which caused the crisis, the group said.
"Habibie himself once called Soeharto his professor."

"It is also difficult for him to prove that he is free from
corruption, collusion and nepotism, which are the main obstacles
to reform.

"Therefore, it is impossible for Habibie to lead us to reform
in the post-Soeharto era," the group said, adding that an
extraordinary session of the People's Consultative Assembly
should be convened before Aug. 17, 1998.

Wealth

Government critic Emil Salim of the Gema Madani (Echo of Civil
Society) group reiterated that Habibie's administration was a
transitional one. He also called on the President and his cabinet
to publicly reveal their personal wealth.

"The President and all cabinet members should relinquish their
other positions in various companies, institutions and
organizations in order to avoid any conflicts of interest," Emil
said.

The new government should also announce the names of their
family members in positions that might cause conflicts of
interest.

If the conditions above are not met, he said, a special
session of the People's Consultative Assembly should be held
within three months in order to elect a new president and vice
president. (swe)