Soeharto pleads for stability

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto left on a one-week foreign trip yesterday, but not before pleading to the nation, which is engulfed in a deep crisis, to preserve political stability.

"I have confidence in the people. I'm leaving the country calm, hopeful that political and national stability can be maintained," Soeharto said shortly before boarding his plane for Cairo to attend the Group of 15 summit which will be followed by a state visit to Egypt.

"In my absence I hope everything goes well, especially the work on reforms. (But) we must not let demands for reform destroy everything that we have achieved through development," he said from the VIP lounge of Halim Perdana Kusumah airport.

"I plead for the people's understanding. I understand their suffering because I come from a poor family," he said.

His departure comes in the wake of massive, nationwide demonstrations led by students calling for political and economic reform.

The protests have been calling for greater political freedom, a cabinet reshuffle, lower prices, and a change in the national leadership through an emergency session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Soeharto's briefing of the media before departing on a foreign trip marked a break with tradition. In the past, the President has always briefed journalists on the flight home from overseas visits.

Soeharto used the occasion to address various issues that have surfaced in recent weeks, from national stability, demands for reform and cabinet reshuffle, hikes in fuel and electricity prices, and the media coverage of these events.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining stability at a time when the country was trying to lift itself out of the economic crisis.

"We need peace and comfort," he said.

"I trust that the people will put the interest of the country and nation ahead of their individual interests," he said.

"Everyone must be willing to sacrifice their interests to meet the higher calling: the interests of the nation and the country.

"If we forget the importance of political stability and national stability, our efforts to solve the crisis will be undermined."

He said the country was faced with two choices, to continue with development until the goal of a just and prosperous nation was achieved, or return to the situation of 30 years ago and lose the fruits of development over the last three decades.

Soeharto, who is also Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (ABRI), warned that the military would take firm action against those who violated the law.

It was ABRIs constitutional calling to take firm action to ensure the safety of the nation and the country, he said.

The President said he endorsed the reform initiatives taken by the House of Representatives, and added that Indonesia has been reforming since independence was achieved in 1945.

Soeharto said that while the House was reviewing the political laws he, as the elected President, was obliged to carry out his mandate and implement the 1998/2003 State Policy Guidelines.

The Guidelines, he said, were full with intent to reform.

Anybody who reads through the document would find the word "renewal" used repeatedly, and this, he claimed, was similar to "reform", a popular jargonistic addition to everyday speech.

Soeharto said that selecting members of the cabinet was his prerogative. "I chose those whom I considered best for the job and met the selection criteria. There are shortcomings, but for now, I feel they are capable of helping me with my Presidential responsibilities."

Soeharto defended his decision to raise fuel and electricity prices last week, stressing that the government had taken various measures to cushion the blow dealt to the poor.

He cited the decision to increase the price paid to farmers for unhusked rice and the unexpected 15 percent increase in civil servant salaries.

Besides, farmers were now enjoying the fruits of the harvest season, he added.

House Commission V on Energy rejected the increases on Friday and called on the government to revoke the presidential decrees that led to move being taken.

Commission members, during a hearing with Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, said the increases were ill- timed.

They also argued that the Rp 16 trillion fuel subsidy which the government hoped to phase out by raising prices was insignificant in comparison to the Rp 107 trillion the government used to bail out troubled banks earlier this year.

Soeharto refuted this comparison, saying: "It is wrong and is misleading to the people."

Money used to bail out banks was not disbursed as a subsidy. Assistance was given in the form of loans in order to protect depositors, he said. "Banks which received money will have to pay it back."

The President criticized the media for confusing people with their coverage.

"So far, I have only seen the media using their freedom but neglecting their responsibilities.

"Now I ask you all to carry out your duty and help calm the situation," he said.

"Let's all work together and give our best to the nation and the country," Soeharto said. (prb/emb)