Soeharto warns of revolution to replace state ideology
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto appealed yesterday to the nation for vigilance, saying that some people are trying to replace the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution through a revolution.
"They are exploiting poverty and social disparity problems to start a revolution," Soeharto said, reported Antara.
The President spoke without a text during a meeting with hundreds of wealthy Indonesians invited to the Presidential Palace in Bogor, south of Jakarta.
He reminded his guests that they owed their wealth not only to their hard labor but more to the New Order administration's development policies.
Soeharto cited the riot in Jakarta on July 27 as the latest attempt by certain people to replace the state ideology.
"We have to be firm when dealing with them," he said.
"They thought that the people had become sick of the situation and had grown to mistrust the government. But as recent events showed, such a belief is neither prevalent, nor does it have any roots."
Dozens of activists, including labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan, are currently being interrogated by the authorities in connection with the riot. Muchtar and Budiman Sudjatmiko, the chairman of the officially unrecognized Democratic People's Party (PRD), have been charged with subversion, an offense punishable by death.
The military has said that PRD resembles the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party in structure and method.
Soeharto said those who provoked the riot tried to take advantage of the increasing political openness and liberty allowed by the government.
They were pushing for reforms in the hope that they could establish a new political party, he said. "These people don't understand. It is they who should adapt (to the law)."
"The Armed Forces (ABRI), consistent to its oath, had no choice but to defend Pancasila. ABRI is the chief supporter of the New Order in defending Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution," said the retired Army general and now supreme chief of ABRI.
This is not a "security approach"; this is ABRI dedicating its services to the nation, he said.
Soeharto said Indonesia had a traumatic experience with a multiparty system in the 1950s. There was no stability because a government had a very short life span, one even lasting a month while the longest served for only two years.
This is the reason why the New Order simplified the political system into two political parties and Golkar, he said. The government has succeeded in making Pancasila the only recognized ideology for social and political organizations, he said.
Reminding the wealthy Indonesians of their "moral" obligation to helping the poorer members of society, Soeharto renewed his appeal that they set aside a small part of their income.
"These people have become well-off not because of their genes, but because of the New Order's successful development," he said, adding that "their hard work would have been meaningless were it not for the stability that the government helped create."
The meeting was intended to brief the wealthy citizens on the progress of the work of the Self-reliant Prosperity Fund, founded early this year to raise money from wealthy citizens and passed on as loans to poor people. The fund is chaired by the President.
The President has issued a decree appealing to individuals and corporations whose after-tax incomes exceed Rp 100 million ($43,500) a year to give 2 percent to the fund.
Soeharto said that by yesterday only half of the people who earn that much have joined in the endeavor.
The fund, which has accumulated to Rp 321 billion by Sept. 12, is from 3,441 corporate taxpayers and 2,082 individuals. In contrast, the Ministry of Finance says there are 6,472 corporations and 4,553 individuals who earn in excess of Rp 100 million after tax.
"I'd really like to know why only half of them have chipped in. If they have problems, I'd be glad to help. The Directorate General of Tax will also help if these businesspeople have difficulties calculating their tax," Soeharto said.
"While you still have a soul in your body, you should give something in this life. The fund is giving you a chance to help the poor," he said. "It is not obligatory, but as human beings, you should feel obliged," he added.
Present at yesterday's meeting were a number of cabinet ministers and corporate leaders and individuals who have given their share. They include Sudono Salim, Sudwikatmono, Bambang Trihatmodjo, Anthony Salim, Eka Tjipta Widjaja, Mohammad (Bob) Hassan, Rachman Halim, Usman Admadjaja, Tommy Soeharto, Titiek Prabowo, Siti Hutami Adiningsih, Ibrahim Risjad and Sukamdani Sahid Gitosardjono. (emb)