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)