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)