Soeharto says investigators insane

Soeharto says investigators insane

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto, returning from a four-nation
tour, lashed out at the Indonesians believed to have provided
information for demonstrations against the republic abroad,
calling them insane and irrational.

"These people are insane and no longer rational. How could
they sell out their own nation in another country," Soeharto said
on Thursday aboard his plane en route to Halim Perdanakusuma
airport. He was returning from a tour to Germany, Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

"If there are problems domestically, then let's solve them at
home, and not by using foreigners over there," the President
said.

Meanwhile, Harmoko, the chairman of Golkar, the ruling
political organization, said in Jambi yesterday that the
involvement of Indonesians in the demonstrations abroad was
incompatible with the moral values of the nation.

If there are those who disagree with the developments pursued
by the New Order, then they should express this in a positive
manner and channel their views, not resort to deceitful and
irresponsible acts, Harmoko said.

Both were referring to a series of demonstrations which
confronted the President during his six-day stay in Germany.

In particular, the President was referring to the protest
occurring during his stop in Dresden.

Over 100 raucous demonstrators encountered the President and
Mrs. Tien Soeharto during their visit to the Zwinger museum.

Security officials were obviously unprepared for such an
incident, thus allowing the obscenity shouting mob to reach very
close proximity of the presidential entourage.

"In my assessment it was the act of a group that is no longer
rational, who can no longer possess a healthy mind. Well, those
who no longer have a healthy mind are the same insane, mad!"
Soeharto told reporters on board the plane.

He revealed that both Indonesian and German authorities had
known prior to his departure for Germany that certain
demonstrations were being planned.

"It had been reported that Amnesty International wanted to
arrange demonstrations against me," Soeharto said of the
internationally recognized organization's attempts to criticize
his record on human rights and democracy.

He charged that Amnesty International had solicited the
support of exiled Indonesian separatists from East Timor, Aceh,
Irian Jaya and even the supporters of the old South Maluku rebels
to carry out the protests.

During the stops preceding Dresden, the demonstrations were
well anticipated and due to the effective crowd control of German
security officials their impact was often negligible.

"In places like Hannover, Bonn and Dusseldorf, they (the
protesters) could be driven away by security officers. But in
Dresden, which was formerly a communist state, maybe they do not
have the experience, thus making such an incident possible,"
Soeharto remarked.

The incident drew condemnation from German officials who
immediately apologized. The Minister/President of Dresden's home
state of Sachsen, K. Biedenkopf, even went so far as to say that
the incident would prompt a review of the regulations on holding
public demonstrations.

Despite the ordeal, Soeharto indicated that the incident would
not strain relations between the two countries.

"We do not think that it was done on purpose by our hosts," he
said.

Recounting the incident that took place at the Zwinger Museum
on April 5 in Dresden, Soeharto said that the demonstrators did
not come in one big mass but came separately in small groups of
three.

"Then, when I came, a whistle was heard and they began
assembling and coming nearer," Soeharto said.

Investigation

Although he indicated that the government would take firm
measures and investigate the Indonesian nationals involved in the
demonstrations, Soeharto did not identify them.

"If it is true, then so be it. We consider them as among those
who are unhealthy, the same as those who are mad. That is why we
should not accommodate these mad people," Soeharto said.

The military has identified three-people -- Goenawan Mohamad,
legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas and Yeni Rosa Damayanti -- who
will soon face investigation for their alleged complicity in the
incident.

Goenawan was the editor-in-chief of the banned Tempo magazine,
Sri Bintang is an outspoken member of the PPP-faction who is in
the process of being recalled, while Yeni is a young activist who
spent several months in jail for defaming the President.

All three were said to be in Germany just before or during
Soeharto's visit.

Soeharto cited a Javanese saying "sak bejo-bejone wong sing
edan, isih bejo sing eling lan waspodo," which means that living
in an age of lunacy, people tend to become insane as well, but
whatever the reward one can get, it is still better to be one who
is aware and alert.

"I personally do not want Indonesia to become insane," he
added. (mds)