Soeharto seeks people's support

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)