Soeharto swears in the new cabinet

Soeharto swears in the new cabinet

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto swore in his new 36-strong
cabinet in a solemn ceremony at the State Palace yesterday.

Moslem clergyman Basiq Djalil, standing next to the 34
ministers who are Moslem, held a Koran above their heads, while
Jason Lase held a Bible for Minister of Manpower Theo Sambuaga,
the lone Christian in the cabinet, to put his hand on.

They repeated after the President to be faithful to the
Constitution and the nation, and to uphold its laws. They further
promised not to succumb to bribes or to abuse their posts by
providing undue privileges.

The cabinet consists of 4 coordinating ministers, 20 ministers
with portfolios, 10 state ministers and the governor of Bank
Indonesia, Sjahril Sabirin, and Attorney General Soedjono
Chanafiah Atmonegoro, who are given ministerial ranks.

Sjahril did not take his oath yesterday as he had been
installed as the central bank governor in February.

Minister of Defense/Armed Forces (ABRI) commander Gen. Wiranto
was sworn in only as a minister because he had been installed as
ABRI's chief last month.

Ten ministers from the former cabinet were again chosen by
Soeharto to sit in the current cabinet.

The current cabinet is smaller with 36 positions compared to
the previous one, which had 41 when it was sworn in in 1993.

Outgoing ministers of the former cabinet were also present at
the ceremony. However, Joop Ave, Inten Suweno and Mien Sugandhi
were absent.

Standing in the background were the spouses and children of
the new ministers who were glowing with pride.

Minister of Social Services Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, Minister
of Agriculture Justika Sjarifudin Baharsjah and State Minister of
Women Roles Tutty Alawiah, the three women in the cabinet, were
accompanied by their husbands at the ceremony.

Justika replaced her own husband, Sjarifudin, for the same
position.

The 30-minute ceremony was broadcasted live by state-owned
TVRI and RRI.

After the swearing-in ceremony, the new ministers received
congratulations from the President, Vice President B.J. Habibie
and his wife Ainur and other guests, including Speaker of the
House of Representatives Harmoko.

The President shook hands with all of the ministers and their
spouses who stood in a row, but when he got to Hardiyanti, his
eldest daughter, Soeharto could not help but give her a hug and a
kiss.

Standing next to Hardiyanti, commonly referred to as Tutut,
was her husband Indra Rukmana.

The cabinet members and their spouses then proceeded to the
terrace of Merdeka Palace for photographs with Soeharto and
Habibie before leaving the Palace in their new Volvo sedans and
adjutants. (prb)