Mischievous hack tricks Ginandjar

JAKARTA (JP): Because much of the proceedings of the General Session and the remarks of Assembly members are predictable, journalists are inventing ways to liven up situations in order to prompt interesting quotes.

Antara reported that Golkar faction chief Ginandjar Kartasasmita was apparently taken aback when a reporter asked him whether President Soeharto was surprised because the People's Consultative Assembly was renominating him for another term of office.

Ginandjar was recounting to journalists the meeting with Soeharto, during which Golkar asked for the latter's willingness to be renominated.

"Was he surprised?" a reporter asked.

"Why surprised?" Ginandjar asked,

"Was Pak Harto surprised by your request?" the reporter explained to a chorus of laughter from the other journalists. After he realized that he had been taken in, Ginandjar joined in the merriment.

Soeharto had, of course, known all along he would be renominated. (swe)