Papers react positively to Soeharto's address

JAKARTA (JP): National newspapers here generally responded positively yesterday toward President Soeharto's accountability address to the People's Consultative Assembly, hailing the President's assertion that a homegrown solution would be the ultimate answer to the economic crisis.

Most readers woke up to headlines of Soeharto's "IMF-Plus" proposal, the currency board system or calls for unity in these dire times.

Kompas daily in its editorial said the speech reflected the general mood of concern in the nation.

"In other words, the president and the government understand and deeply feel what is going on in society as a result of the monetary and economic crisis," the daily said.

The leading national newspaper concurred with the President who stressed that restoring confidence was the key remedy. "Trust should first and foremost come domestically," the daily said.

But it also noted that the crisis exposed the need for not only sound economic fundamentals but also good governance. "The key word is restoring trust. Trust in the rupiah which also means trust in the government."

Media Indonesia focused on Soeharto's "IMF-Plus" proposal.

It's page-one editorial also zoomed in on the question of trust saying that garnering international trust was not something which could be contrived.

"It is a result of us proving that there is no disparity between what we are saying and doing," the paper said.

Media Indonesia then lashed out at those undermining government efforts to fight the crisis for their personal gain.

"...such as those who try to continue to undertake activities which have been previously agreed by President Soeharto and the IMF to be terminated," it said, just stopping short of identifying who these people were.

In a biting commentary, Media Indonesia pointed out that the crisis could be tackled more effectively if the people could see that the nation's formal and informal leaders were also sharing the burden.

Merdeka in its editorial criticized the government for limiting public participation in the political process, thus weakening resilience to face economic challenges.

"For three decades of development, the people have not been sufficiently allowed to participate in development, along with the mechanism of government and a state institution which has been felt to be rigid and insensitive to the people's aspirations," Merdeka said.

Meanwhile Republika daily cheered the president for what it believed was "an honest, direct, open and uninhibited" address.

Its headline complemented its editorial which stressed Soeharto's remarks that the nation's fate was in its own hands.

Exalting these words, Republika's editorial swayed with strong nationalistic undertones saying that "the new nationalistic nuance in the President's speech... should be underlined."

It warned against international market reaction and pressures which could be linked to domestic political issues such as the nomination of the vice president. (mds)