Soeharto welcomes thoughts on political reforms

Soeharto welcomes thoughts on political reforms

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto said yesterday that he was
not opposed to any political reform, and called on the nation to
give their thoughts on the subject now.

He emphasized, however, that any concept on political reform
could only be implemented after 2003, given that the head of
state was bound by the 1998-2003 State Policy Guidelines enacted
by the People's Consultative Assembly in March.

The President also said that a new electoral system could be
applied for the next general election, due in 2002.

His remarks, relayed through ministers, were made to rectify
headline reports in most of yesterday's newspapers which
suggested that he would not allow reforms until after 2003.

The President summoned Minister of Home Affairs R. Hartono and
Minister of Information Alwi Dahlan to Merdeka Palace before 9
a.m. to clarify his position.

The two ministers gave the briefing Friday on which most of
yesterday's headlines were based. It was left to them yesterday
to correct the media's interpretation of what Soeharto meant.

"There is a slight misunderstanding if we observe newspaper
headlines today and wire services last night," Alwi said.

"These reports portrayed that the President was opposed to any
reform until 2003. Just about all reports said this. That is not
the case.

"We want to put the record straight and correct the news
reports," he said.

Hartono said newspapers had misinterpreted Soeharto's position
on reforms.

The President suggested that people should start thinking
about reforms now and give their contributions to the process, he
said.

"If we believe that reform is a (legal) product, then it must
be understood that the product will come into effect from 2003
onward. This doesn't mean that it cannot be prepared before
then."

"Whatever reform concepts are produced today, they will not be
used in the current five-year period," Hartono said.

Soeharto called a rare meeting with leaders of the House of
Representatives and the political parties Friday to discuss the
issue of political reform, a subject that has become a rallying
point for student protests in the last two months.

In that meeting, Hartono said Soeharto urged the three
political parties -- Golkar, the United Development Party and the
Indonesian Democratic Party -- to take the initiative of
reviewing the political laws if people viewed them as
restrictive.

Hartono said that the five political laws enacted in 1985 and
upon which the current political system is founded, could be
reviewed.

Of the five pieces of legislation, Soeharto singled out the
electoral law, proposing that Indonesia moved from proportional
representation, in which people vote for a political party, to
the district system in which people vote for their
representatives.

"Prior to the next general election (2002), a revision of the
electoral system is not only possible, but it is also a must,"
Hartono said.

Alwi and Hartono said these changes required in-depth
discussions and study and thorough preparations. Besides the
electoral system, other thoughts on reforms should be
incorporated in the 2003 State Policy Guidelines.

Hartono said the regional autonomy program, currently a pilot
project in selected regencies, would be implemented in full
throughout the nation by 2000. This would facilitate the
introduction of the district electoral system in 2002, he said.

Soeharto, the ministers said, also asked for thoughts and
contributions on the role of the Armed Forces (ABRI) in the new
electoral system in which all House members would be elected.

Currently, ABRI members do not vote, but they are allocated 75
seats in the 500-strong House.

Should ABRI members be allowed to vote or should ABRI be
allowed to establish a party of its own were some of the
questions that had to be looked at, Alwi said.

All of these went to show that the President was not opposed
to reform, Alwi said.

"I hope that your reports will not be written indicating that
the President does not want any ideas on reform," added Hartono.
(prb)