Presidential accountability speech incomplete: PPP, PDI

Presidential accountability speech incomplete: PPP, PDI

JAKARTA (JP): The two minority parties criticized President
Soeharto's account of his last five years of leadership as
incomplete and suggested improvements yesterday.

United Development Party (PPP) chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum
and Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) chairman Soerjadi
separately said the President failed to include in his speech
certain strategic issues, including the need for political
reform.

"What has been achieved in the political sector (over the past
five years) is far below our expectations," Ismail, better known
as Buya, told reporters after the opening of the General Session
of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) yesterday.

Two PPP legislators, Hamzah Haz and Muhammad Buang, shared
Ismail's view.

"The President's accountability speech was focused on economic
reform only, while economic problems cannot be separated from
politics," Hamzah said.

"Economic reform should go hand in hand with political
reform," Buang said.

Soerjadi said Soeharto's accountability speech failed to
discuss existing mismanagement in the government.

"The account was incomplete because it discussed mostly the
country's success in development programs," he said. "The account
did not touch on government officials' corruption and collusion,
or business monopolies."

He said the PDI faction had begun preparing its response to
the presidential accountability speech. He declined to explain
the faction's final stance.

Golkar legislator Pinantun Hutasoit said there would be no
reason for his faction to reject the President's account of
leadership.

"The House of Representatives (DPR) has never rejected
President Soeharto's yearly speech on the State Budget. As it is,
we will also accept the President's account of leadership," he
said.

Hasan Basri Durin, chairman of the regional representatives
faction, also stated his faction's readiness to accept Soeharto's
account.

"The accountability speech was sincerely, objectively and
straightforwardly prepared by President Soeharto," he said. "(My)
faction will accept it unconditionally."

He said the President had given a balanced report of progress
achieved by the country over the past five years -- his report
not only disclosed success in development programs, but also in a
number of problems, including the monetary crisis facing
Indonesia.

Asked whether it had been necessary for Soeharto to publicly
express regret over the prolonged monetary crisis, Hasan said the
President should not solely be blamed for the crisis.

"This is the responsibility of all Indonesians," he said.

Hari Sabarno, chairman of the Armed Forces faction at the
Assembly, said his faction had yet to discuss its stance, but he
was confident members would accept Soeharto's account.

"We have renominated Pak Harto for the next presidency. Why
would we reject his account?" he asked.

The five factions will deliver their overview of Soeharto's
account tomorrow.

Meanwhile, former vice president Sudharmono said he understood
if it took the government a long time to remedy the economy.

"The government could not overcome the crisis within a day or
two," he said. "Unlike magical tricks, economic reform cannot be
carried out except in phases."

"What is important is that there should be progress in the
development program," he said.

Separately, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto said it was not
the right time to pass the buck for the economic crisis.

He said the crisis had taken place because of globalization
and trade liberalization.

"Whether we like it or not, we have to bear all the risks of
such a globalized economy," he said. "And we have had to suffer
greater losses than we anticipated.

"What we now need is to stay united to survive the monetary
crisis," he said. (imn/byg)