Soeharto calls for smooth poll
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto called on the nation yesterday to strive to make the general election next year better than previous polls in Indonesia.
He also appealed to everyone to entrust the task of organizing the elections to the officially-designated agencies.
"We want the 1997 General Election to proceed smoothly. We must all strive to make each election better than the previous ones," he said in a speech to commemorate National Awakening Day.
While acknowledging that there were some shortcomings in previous elections, he said they should not obscure the achievements already made.
"We must not let them undermine our self-confidence in that we can organize a fair and honest election. Let's rid ourselves of any suspicion," he said before a huge crowd of mostly school students as well as officials at the Jakarta Convention Center.
With the election approaching, there is now a growing pressure on the government to make sure that the polls are held fairly and honestly, and that the cheating which marred past elections will be punished severely.
The United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), the two minority parties which are contesting the election against the mighty Golkar, have been calling for more guarantees from the government to ensure greater fairness.
A group of activists, led by senior journalist Goenawan Mohamad, has formed the Independent Election Supervising Committee. They plan to deploy volunteers at all polling booths to monitor the way the elections are held. Although government officials have criticized the independent committee, they have stopped short of outlawing it.
Soeharto made no direct reference to the poll watchdog, but said: "Let's entrust the election organizers and supervisors with the task of holding the polls, from the beginning to the end."
Earlier this month the National Election Institute began registering voters, making door-to-door visits throughout the country. The registration process officially ended yesterday.
This year's National Awakening Day picked up the theme of ensuring a successful election in 1997, seen as a continuing process of the national movement which began with the founding of Boedi Oetomo, the first modern national organization, on May 20, 1908, when Indonesia was still under Dutch colonial rule.
Soeharto said the general election is a clear manifestation of democracy. "It is a very important political event for the nation. Everyone of us, without exception, has the duty and honor to ensure that the polls proceed as smoothly as possible."
On the theme of nationalism, the President said the spirit that led to Indonesia's independence in 1945 should be cultivated to help the country meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Indonesia has just embarked on the Second Long Term Development Plan spanning a 25-year period, he said. "We have resolved that our development will take-off and that we will catch up with other countries that have already moved ahead."
"Our struggle is not over yet," he added, underlining the nation's goal of attaining a just and prosperous society.
The President said that at a time that the world is rapidly changing, Indonesia must adapt. "But there is one thing that must not change, that is our identity as a nation."
"A nation that loses its identity will have been swayed by the force of global changes. Such nations will sink half way, never reaching their destination."
Soeharto said the spirit of nationalism is essential when Indonesia enters into free trade arrangements.
This means Indonesia has to make its economy efficient to stay competitive, he said.
"But this alone is not enough," he said. "We have to support this by loving locally-made products. Loving our own products is a clear manifestation of nationalism in the economic field." (emb)
Registration -- Page 2