Soeharto stresses importance of voting

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto said today's general election was of particular importance because it would take Indonesia into the 21st century and the world was watching closely.

"The outside world is also interested in the result of this general election as input in formulating their policies which they will adopt on us in years to come," Soeharto said.

In a nationwide televised speech last night, Soeharto again called on all voters to exercise their voting rights responsibly. "Eligible voters have the right to vote for the most suitable contestant for their aspirations and interests," he said.

The President and his family will vote at a polling station near his residence on Jl. Cendana, with about 300 other residents of Menteng, Central Jakarta. About 124.7 million eligible voters are expected to cast their votes at 305,219 polling stations across the country.

Some foreign correspondents have sought invitations to cover Soeharto voting today. Five years ago he surprised many by briefly addressing foreign journalists after he had voted.

"General elections are a part of the five-year national leadership cycle, and through the election the nation prepares the direction of its national leadership and development," Soeharto said yesterday.

Soeharto said he was confident that all members of the elections committees had worked hard to ensure that all voters would be able to cast their ballots without disturbances.

"Obey all the regulations so that this election truly reflects people's aspirations," the President said.

Sin

Separately, the chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council, Hasan Basri, ruled yesterday that Moslems would be committing a sin if they refrained from voting in today's general election.

"Those who do not exercise their right to vote, or choose Golput (nonvoting), spoil Allah's divine gift of grace," Hasan was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.

Therefore, he said, as good citizens every Moslem was obliged to cast their ballot without hesitation because the poll result would be vital in determining the state's direction.

"Your vote would be meaningful for the state's future," said Basri as quoted by the state news agency.

The Indonesian Bishops Council said in its pre-Easter pastoral letter that it would not be a sin for Catholics not to vote. It called on Catholics to listen to their conscience in exercising their political rights.

President Soeharto said yesterday he was concerned about the recent riots. He told the local press to refrain from sensationalizing social disparity issues because bias reports could agitate and eventually cause riots.

Soeharto told Hasan Basri and the ulemas who visited him yesterday to soothe and calm the public and not aggravate the situation.

"I acknowledge that we have shortcomings. Let us resolve these shortcomings. But please... do not only expose the negative and conceal the positive aspects of development," Soeharto was quoted by Hasan Basri as saying after their meeting.

Soeharto, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono and other government officials, Basri and four other ulemas council executives and a group of businessmen led by Probosutedjo attended the meeting.

Hasan Basri told the meeting that he was worried by the recent political riots which had swept the country. "We, the ulemas, are deeply concerned by the riots in recent months. We worry that certain groups have blown up the disparity between the have and have-nots and attacked the conglomerates," Basri said.

He told Soeharto that irresponsible groups had stirred up community jealousy to discredit the government and sow discord.

Basri and Minister/Cabinet Secretary Saadillah Mursjid were rescued uninjured from the Kalimantan Selatan Hotel which was burned by rioters last Friday. Both of them come from South Kalimantan.

"I saw with my own eyes how wild the rioters were, burning the hotel. They could only have been organized by skilled people," said Basri who was trapped inside the hotel for five hours with 59 other people.

Afraid

Meanwhile, National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo told the public they would have nothing to fear when they left their homes for polling booths. "It's safe," Dibyo said.

About 178,000 police had been deployed for nationwide election security, Dibyo said. At least 28,000 police have been deployed to secure polling stations in Jakarta and its surrounding cities of Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi.

One police officer, helped by six security guards, will guard four polling booths. One thousand three hundred personnel will be on standby at the City Police Headquarters and 9,000 military personnel will be ready to serve as reinforcements anywhere in the archipelago. (06/pan/23/cst)

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