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)