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)