Soeharto holds rare media conference

Soeharto holds rare media conference

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto explained the newly
negotiated economic reform package which he will carry out under
the supervision of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a
rare media conference yesterday held in his living room at his
residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.

In the one hour briefing, broadcasted live by the private TV
station RCTI, which is controlled by his second son Bambang
Trihatmodjo, the 76-year-old retired five-star general looked
cheerful and spoke firmly.

Sometimes, he had to raise his voice above the squawking of
birds and chickens in the backyard of his home.

He described how foreign leaders had called or visited him to
demonstrate their support for him in putting the country's
economy back in order.

"President Soeharto, this is a call from your close friend.
You don't need to worry because I and the German people will
fully support Indonesia in overcoming its crisis," Soeharto
quoted German Chancellor Helmut Kohl from a telephone
conversation held between the heads of state earlier this week.

Soeharto appealed to the public to be patient and wait for the
results of the reform package's bitter medicine, which projects
zero economic growth for the 1998/1999 fiscal year.

"Please, don't expect foreign investors to instantly pour
money into Indonesia after this announcement. We would actually
be in trouble if they poured their money in too early," he noted.

Journalists who have covered Soeharto's activities since the
1970s said yesterday's briefing was one of a very few such media
conferences he had given over the last 20 years.

During the briefing, the President challenged hesitant
reporters to ask him any questions.

"It was very surprising that we were given such freedom.
Usually palace officials screen our questions or gesture to us to
stop if we ask sensitive questions," said a journalist who
regularly covered Soeharto's overseas trips.

The President condemned currency speculators which he said had
ruined the country's economy, built over the past 30 years,
within only six months.

"We cannot fight against these gamblers ... especially since
they are invisible," Soeharto said while bursting into laughter.
(prb)