Soeharto to meet House factions

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has invited the leaders of the political organizations and factions represented in the House of Representatives (DPR) to meet him today at the Bina Graha presidential office.

Budi Hardjono, chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction in the House, said yesterday that he does not know exactly what will be on the meeting's agenda.

"We do not know the agenda. It is likely that President Soeharto will give an explanation on the latest economic and political developments in the country. We will be received at 9:00 a.m.," Antara quoted him as saying.

He said that the meeting was being held at the President's request, and that he received a phone call from Sunaryati Haryanto, deputy secretary-general of PDI, about the invitation Tuesday.

The news agency reported yesterday that Golkar's House faction held a meeting at the House of Representatives building yesterday to prepare for today's meeting.

Budi said it would be positive if the President gave an explanation of the latest developments particularly since such meetings were very rare.

"I have been a House member for 10 years but this is the first time I have received such an invitation from the President. He must have something very important to say. We rarely get explanations from the number one in the country," he said.

He said that the President last held such a meeting with party and socio-political organization leaders at the beginning of the New Order administration in 1968.

Asked whether the meeting would have anything to do with the planned enforcement of the MPR decree on the president's extraordinary powers, Budi said: "I don't think so. Let's see tomorrow (today)."

Budi suspects the meeting will focus more on the latest economic and political issues. (rms)