Soeharto stresses importance of voting

Thu, 29 May 1997, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

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)