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)