Suspicions grow as election nears

Suspicions grow as election nears

JAKARTA (JP): Certain groups with the potential to obstruct the 1997 general elections have to be watched, senior officials said yesterday.

Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. called on ministry officials across the country, in their capacity as "patrons of political development", to beware of "certain social political organizations and their maneuvers".

"Anticipate various problems that might arise in connection with the coming elections," he was quoted by Antara as saying when opening a meeting of Indonesia's 27 governors yesterday.

He did not identify the groups, but suggested that the governors deal with their maneuvers "in accordance with the law".

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman was more direct.

At an Association of Indonesian Labor Exporters congress yesterday, Soesilo named workers, students and the press as "three areas that have to be watched and handled, especially in the run-up to the 1997 general elections".

"It's from these areas that problems could arise, ones that could adversely affect the elections," Soesilo said.

He said that the problems that cause unrest among workers must be handled so they aren't exploited and turned into political issues that can be used to attack the government.

At least one group in society believes it has come under the suspicion of the government.

K.H. Sahal Mahfudz, an Indonesian Council of Ulemas leader, said that the authorities in many regions have begun to treat religious leaders with suspicion.

The respected ulema said yesterday in Semarang, Central Java, that such apprehension is unnecessary as most ulemas keep their distance from political issues.

"They teach purely religious matters, they don't bring their political aspirations to the public," he said. "They are not speaking for the PPP, PDI or Golkar".

The three political groups that will contest the elections are the United Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the ruling Golkar.

Sahal said the suspicion originated with security figures, who misunderstand religious leaders. "If there are ulemas who give political speeches, then they are no longer ulemas, they are politicians," he said.

Political observer Susilo Utomo at Diponegoro University in Semarang said the government's suspicion of ulemas is understandable.

"There are ulemas who like to speak about politics and even come out in support of certain political parties, especially the PDI," he said.

"However, I'm sure that if the kyai (religious leaders) give political speeches in support of Golkar, then they would be okay and the authorities wouldn't be suspicious of them," Susilo said. (har/swe/rms)