Soeharto seeks people's support

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto, sworn in for his seventh five-year term of office yesterday, appealed in his inauguration address for people's support to complete the term which he sees as being "very tough."

Soeharto's deputy for the next five years is the country's technology czar B.J. Habibie, who was elected yesterday and sworn in in a separate ceremony last night.

The inauguration of Soeharto and Habibie capped the heavily guarded 11-day People's Consultative Assembly General Session which cost Rp 44.7 billion (US$5 million).

Promising to carry out his duties as well and justly as possible, Soeharto said he needed the support of all Indonesians from all backgrounds and generations.

"I plead for support from all Indonesian people from any groups, any circles, women, men and generations," he said after taking the oath during a People's Consultative Assembly plenary session led by its speaker Harmoko.

Soeharto took the oath as a Moslem before the 976 Assembly members. The Assembly' sole presidential candidate, he was elected Tuesday. Habibie was the sole vice presidential candidate.

"In the name of Allah I swear to carry out my duties to the best of my ability, to act justly, uphold the 1945 Constitution, respect all rules and dedicate myself to the state and the nation," he said under a Koran held above his head by a Moslem imam.

This was the first time Soeharto had been inaugurated president without his wife Siti Hartinah present. He was widowed in April 1996.

In his inaugural address, Soeharto said, "As a Moslem, I'm well aware of the true meaning of these words. Later, on Judgement Day, I will account for all my deeds in leading this nation before the Most Knowing, the Almighty God."

Facing Soeharto, who is 76 years old and been at the helm for 32 years, is the devastating economic crisis that observers say is comparable to the one he had to deal with when he rose to power in the mid-1960s.

As his reelection was unchallenged within the 1,000-member Assembly, thousands of students in major cities across Indonesia demonstrated their rejection of him yesterday and demanded political reform.

Test

Soeharto said Indonesia was undergoing an "extremely difficult test and trial" due to the economic crisis that means people will be unable to enjoy the economic growth enjoyed for the last 25 years.

"As a nation, we must tighten our belts. As individuals, as a group, some of us may lead affluent lives. But as a nation, we can no longer afford to lead an extravagant life.

"During the present hardship, we need a stronger solidarity, a sense of sharing the same faith and destiny".

The President told the 500 House of Representatives members, who are automatically Assembly members, that he needed support, criticism and supervision from them in the future.

"I have fully and broad-mindedly listened to all subtle and veiled or strong, blunt, criticisms... These criticisms constitute valuable inputs for the improvement of my government in the coming years," he said amid thunderous applause.

After the inauguration ceremony, Soeharto held a family gathering at his residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta, at which he reiterated that his job would be "very tough", especially due to the crisis.

"But I believe the people won't leave me struggling alone to overcome all the problems."

Attending the family get-together were his children, relatives and close aides, including Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto and Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

Assembly Speaker Harmoko, who chaired the presidential and vice presidential inauguration ceremonies, said he was confident the Indonesian people would not leave their president struggling alone.

"The people will dutifully stand by you, Mr. President," said Harmoko, Golkar chairman and Soeharto's former information minister.

Habibie

In the final session last night, Soeharto sat to the right of the long elevated table where Harmoko and his deputies were sitting, while Habibie and outgoing Vice President Try Sutrisno sat together on the left-hand side. After taking his oath, Habibie swapped chairs with Try.

The new Vice President confidently strode to the microphone and delivered his inaugural speech which was halted several times by applause.

Habibie referred to the public perception that as the vice president, he should be able to assist the President in the former's efforts to bring Indonesia into the globalization era, and to industrialize the country in the interests of the people.

The industrialization, he pointed out, should aim at establishing a modern national industrial base with a strong agricultural sector. The campaign for industrialization should also mean the utilization and development of science and technology in order to increase the nation's competitiveness.

Earlier in the day Habibie met with Harmoko and his deputies -- Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid of the Armed Forces faction, Abdul Gafur of the dominant Golkar, Fatimah Achmad of the Indonesian Democratic Party, Ismail Hasan Metareum of the United Development Party and Poedjono Pranjoto of the regional representatives -- who interviewed him about his readiness to be the sole vice presidential candidate.

Cooperation

Harmoko told a media conference that he raised four yes-or-no questions with Habibie, including whether the latter would be willing to cooperate with Soeharto.

In the following plenary session in the afternoon, the 957 Assembly members attending formally elected Habibie as the 1998/2003 vice president, in a procedure that mirrored the one in which Soeharto was reelected.

Habibie's swearing-in ceremony last night was the finale of the 1998 General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

In his closing speech, Harmoko expressed confidence that the President would faithfully carry out the mandate given to him and implement the 1998 State Policy Guidelines.

"We also strongly believe that the President will wisely accommodate the people's aspirations, wishes and hopes both to the letter and in spirit, spoken and unspoken," he said.

Harmoko then directly called on the President, Vice President and the soon-to-be-formed new cabinet to directly tackle the economic crisis.

"The Assembly is fully aware that the short-term task of the President is difficult, in fact very difficult, but we are strongly convinced that all Indonesians stand firmly beside the President.

"International cooperation and assistance is important, but it is far more important to rely on our nation's strength and self- confidence," he said.

Harmoko said the Assembly concurred with Soeharto's earlier statement that it was Indonesia itself which had to decide its own course.

"Consequently let us demonstrate that we are a sovereign nation capable of taking decisions to uphold the dignity and honor of the Indonesian people," he asserted.

The former minister of information did not forget to praise the work of outgoing vice president Try Sutrisno who received a loud ovation.

Resounding applause also greeted his tribute to the "full loyalty, patience and great motherly spirit" of Mrs. Tuti Try Sutrisno while standing at the side of her husband. (team)