Tycoons support Habibie

Tycoons support Habibie

JAKARTA (JP): The country's top conglomerates demonstrated
their support for President B.J. Habibie yesterday and said they
were encouraged by his commitment to protect all Indonesian
citizens, including those of Chinese descent.

Property tycoon Ciputra said they assured the president that
in their view, Indonesia's future remained very promising despite
the current turmoil, and promised they would do their utmost to
help him rebuild the economy.

The President reiterated the government's plan to ratify the
United Nations anti-discrimination convention to lay the
foundations for campaigns to banish the issue from Indonesian
society in the future, Ciputra said.

"We have been hoping for that for a long time, (the convention
will ensure equality so that) we can eat together with you.
We... are very happy that President Habibie promised to put it
into law," Ciputra told the media after meeting with Habibie at
the Bina Graha presidential office along with the heads of 10
other conglomerates.

Also invited to the meeting were William Soeryadjaya, the
former owner of Astra group; Suharso Gondokusumo; The Nin King,
the head of Argo Pantes Manunggal; Modern Group's Samadikun
Hartono; and Kaharudin Ongko.

Murdaya Widyawimarta, Budi Brasali, Subentra's Benny Suherman,
Wiely Sugiharto, and Soejono Varinata from Djajanti Group were
also invited.

Habibie used the meeting to exchange views on development
strategies and to listen to their complaints.

He regularly meets with business leaders, including foreign
investors, and usually invites them to be frank in their
statements.

"We discussed the security problem related to our exports and
then the creation of job opportunities," Ciputra said.

Tens of thousands of Chinese-Indonesians reportedly fled after
the May riots which forced president Soeharto to step down and
hand the presidency to Habibie.

About 1,200 people were killed during the riots. More than 160
women, mostly Chinese-Indonesians, were raped during the unrest
that some observers believe was triggered by organized groups of
people.

Habibie has agreed to set up an independent committee to
investigate the incident.

Habibie has also appealed for Chinese-Indonesians to return to
the country and has guaranteed their security.

However, in an interview with the Washington Post last week,
Habibie warned that they might lose out on business opportunities
if they did not return soon.

"If the Chinese community does not come back because they do
not trust their own country and society, I can not force them,
nobody can force them...But do you really think that we will then
die?" he asked rhetorically.

The statement sparked controversy. Several observers said the
remark would only worsen the current situation.

"On May 14 (the peak of the riots), confidence was at a low
ebb but it has now begun to grow again," Ciputra noted.

"After the general election in May 1999 the country's economy
will take off again," Ciputra added.

Murdaya, however, complained that the problem of looting,
including the plundering of export containers that has emerged in
the aftermath of the riots had not yet been fully resolved.

"Our production costs have become very competitive as a result
of the weakening rupiah... (We could take advantage of this)
provided we can guarantee domestic security and if our containers
are not looted," Murdaya noted.

William also gave some concrete advise to Habibie. He said
tourism was one of the most lucrative businesses and could be
improved if the government allowed charter planes to fly directly
into Bali and Yogyakarta.

"Then tourists would no longer have to go to Bali or
Yogyakarta via Jakarta or Solo," he said. (prb)