CNN logo
Navigation
 
COMMUNITY 
Message Boards 
Chat 
Feedback 

SITE SOURCES 
Contents 
Help! 
Search 
CNN Networks 

SPECIALS 
Quick News 
Almanac 
Video Vault 
News Quiz 




Pathfinder/Warner Bros


Barnes and Noble



Election Watch grfk

Q & A

Insight
World banner
rule

Faster access in Japan

Indonesian government pledges early elections

cabinet meeting
The new Cabinet met for the first time Monday   
May 25, 1998
Web posted at: 5:05 a.m. EDT (0905 GMT)

Vote will require changes in election laws

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Indonesia will hold parliamentary elections "as soon as possible" pending changes in election laws, the government's principal spokesman announced Monday. The government also announced that two prominent political prisoners jailed by former President Suharto will be released from prison as part of a continuing push for reform.

Demands for new elections and political reform have intensified since Suharto resigned last week amid a crippling economic crisis, nationwide protests and violent riots. Legal experts say the changes and preparations for elections will happen soon.

"If we can make it in six months or earlier, that would be good," State Secretary Akbar Tanjung said. "But it might also take one year."

Tanjung made the announcement after the first meeting of Indonesia's new Cabinet, which was sworn in Sunday. President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie assumed office Thursday, after Suharto resigned, ending 32 years of authoritarian rule.

Tanjung said the elections would take place after the government passes changes to liberalize Indonesia's election laws. Currently, only three political parties are allowed to contest elections, and political activity is restricted to a few weeks before elections.

Habibie
Habibie   

"The principle is elections as soon as possible after we prepare the laws," he said.

The promise of early elections came after demands by six of the 36 Cabinet ministers, led by top Economic Minister Ginandjar Kartasasmita. The ministers of finance, industry and trade, national development banking and state enterprises empowerment joined the call, as did the governor of Indonesia's central bank.

To elect a new president, the government would have to call a session of the People's Consultative Assembly, a 1,000 member body that normally meets every five years. The body is made up of the 500 members of parliament, plus military and civilian officials approved by the president.

Habibie, widely seen as Suharto's hand-picked successor, has been under pressure to call new elections. Under current law, Habibie is slated to finish Suharto's five-year term, which ends in 2003.

Opposition leaders are taking a wait-and-see approach to the new administration, but have threatened to resume protests unless Habibie makes dramatic reforms. No demonstrations were reported Sunday, and the number of soldiers in the streets was greatly reduced Monday.

Political prisoners to be released

Soldiers
Fewer soldiers were in the streets Monday, but they were still highly visible around government buildings   

Cabinet ministers announced that the release of the two prominent political prisoners will take place later Monday.

Justice Minister Muladi said dissidents Muchtar Pakpahan, a labor leader, and Sri Bintang Pamungkas, a university professor and former legislator, would be freed during Muladi's visit to Cipinang prison.

Pakpahan, leader of the nation's largest but officially unrecognized labor union, was serving a 34-month sentence for allegedly fomenting a workers' riot in 1994. Sri Bintang Pamungkas received the same sentence for cracking an insulting joke about Suharto.

Also at Monday's meeting, the head of the armed forces told the Cabinet that 14 soldiers are being investigated in the shooting deaths of six protesters earlier this month.

"There are eight prime suspects from the armed forces, and six officers who are suspected of violating procedure," Defense Minister Gen. Wiranto said. "Their actions were undisciplined."

The four students and two others were shot May 12 at Jakarta's Trisakti University, during a demonstration calling for Suharto to step down. The shootings sparked outrage, fueling the unrest that ultimately led to Suharto's resignation. The protests turned to riots that left some 500 dead and thousands of buildings damaged.

Wiranto called for swift court action against the suspects, but said the severity of the charges should match the actions of the various individuals.

 
rule

Message board:

Related stories:

Related sites:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

Infoseek search  

Message Boards Sound off on our
message boards & chat
Back to the top

© 1998 Cable News Network, Inc.
A Time Warner Company
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.