Soeharto calls for smooth poll
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)
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