Soeharto warns of revolution to replace state ideology

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)