Soeharto's stand on cultism gains support

Soeharto's stand on cultism gains support

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto's refusal to be turned into a
cult figure received widespread support yesterday from
legislators, military officials and political observers.

Soeharto's stand was seen as a reflection of his democratic
nature by House Speaker Harmoko and his deputies -- Syarwan
Hamid, Ismail Hasan Metareum and Fatimah Achmad -- and by
political observers Rudini and Amien Rais.

"It shows us that President Soeharto is a person who abides by
the constitution," Harmoko, also chairman of the dominant Golkar,
told reporters after chairing a House general session yesterday.

Syarwan, deputy House Speaker of the Armed Forces (ABRI)
faction, shared Harmoko's view.

"Pak Harto is a democrat. He'll never be authoritarian and
will always comply with the laws," he said.

Ismail, deputy House Speaker of the United Development Party
(PPP) faction, said Soeharto always complied with democratic
values.

"Pak Harto always plays according to the rules," he said.

Deputy House Speaker of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
faction, Fatimah, said the campaign showed Soeharto's modest
attitude.

"It shows us his statesmanship as a leading figure," she said.

Rudini, chairman of the Institute for Strategic Studies of
Indonesia, an informal military think tank, shared the
legislators' opinion.

"President Soeharto has always been democratic in his words
and actions," he said after addressing local newspaper editors at
the office of the ABRI Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs yesterday.

Amien, political observer of the Gadjah Mada University, in
Yogyakarta, said President Soeharto's statement indicated that he
was a realistic person.

"The President has clearly told us his stance. And it is not
his mistake if people still see him as a cult figure," Amien
said.

The legislators and political observers were commenting on
Soeharto's remarks Tuesday that the nation should not turn him
into a cult figure because it was against religious teachings.

Soeharto dismissed the allegation of political engineering
behind his election as the country's president, saying that he
was able to lead the nation because people trusted him as their
head of state.

A former minister of home affairs, Rudini, said yesterday that
Soeharto's statement should be seen as a warning about the risk
attached to electing a person of his age.

"We (people) all must consider that age is an important factor
in leading a country. And he (Soeharto) realizes that he is not
young any more," he said.

Rudini said the election mechanism would follow the
established criteria and Soeharto must meet the criteria if
reelected.

"But President Soeharto is not to blame if he is reelected,"
he said.

Harmoko said Soeharto's statement had nothing to do with
Golkar's premature commitment to renominate the incumbent
president in next year's presidential election, due to take place
in March.

"If the people want him (Soeharto) to be reelected, why should
we object to their wish? And Golkar remains committed to
renominating him next year," Harmoko said.

Supporting Harmoko, Syarwan said: "If Soeharto is reelected,
it is merely on rational grounds."

Ismail said he was not sure that President Soeharto was
unwilling to be reelected.

Meanwhile, Fatimah returned the question of Soeharto's
reelection to the people.

"Ask the people why they have only elected the same person all
this time," she said. (imn/23)