Officials reiterate Soeharto's warning on currency crisis
Officials reiterate Soeharto's warning on currency crisis
JAKARTA (JP): Cabinet ministers and officials climbed on the
bandwagon yesterday after President Soeharto warned people not to
fish in murky waters by taking advantage of the currency crisis.
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, Army Chief of Staff Gen.
Wiranto, Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council Sudomo and
Minister of Information R. Hartono separately expressed their
support of Soeharto's warning. They agreed that there were groups
in society who had been taking advantage of the rupiah crisis.
Moerdiono said the President was referring to some groups,
including politicians, who had exploited the crisis to create
political and economical instability in the country.
"I'm sure that there are politicians who are exploiting the
currency crisis," he said, but declined to mention any names.
Speaking to reporters after escorting finance ministers and
officials in a meeting with President Soeharto at his residence
on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta, Moerdiono said he was sure there
were non-economical factors involved in the weakening of the
rupiah.
"As you can see, the rupiah strengthened after the President
made an appearance when he inducted the National Military Academy
graduates (Thursday)," he said.
The country has been rocked by a series of malicious rumors in
the past few weeks. The latest rumor Monday suggested there would
be a coup Wednesday.
The rumors seriously affected the rupiah, which reached the
lowest point ever in Indonesian history.
Moerdiono called on the people to help each other, to develop
trust among each other, and to help each other in the recovery of
the state's economy.
President Soeharto said before fresh graduates of the National
Military Academy Thursday that people should not fish in murky
waters by taking advantage of the currency crisis.
Wiranto said the President was serious in his statement,
adding that he would not have made the remarks unless he had been
backed by strong data.
"The President must have had the facts and the analysis to
support the allegation," he told reporters after delivering an
eulogy at the funeral of Soesilo Soedarman, the coordinating
minister for political affairs and security who passed away
Thursday.
Wiranto said the Army headquarters would continue to closely
monitor the situation and take necessary action by "anticipating"
any possible problems.
"We always make preparations to face even the worst possible
situation," he said.
He warned groups and individuals against taking advantage of
the currency crisis in Indonesia. He said the authorities were
ready to crush them.
Sudomo said he was not surprised that Soeharto issued such a
warning. He said the President had previously made similar
remarks.
"In any country, there are always opposition groups,
dissidents seeking to wage a campaign against the government," he
said.
Hartono agreed, saying that Indonesians should be responsible
and heed Soeharto's warning.
"We're in a difficult situation now. Everybody must help one
another solve the problems," he said. (prb/amd/imn)