(10 Mar 1998) English/Nat
Despite economic turmoil and increasingly noisy calls for Suharto to step down, Indonesia re-elected its President on Tuesday to a seventh five-year term.
The unanimous decision was announced at the National People's Assembly in Jakarta, which has been meeting since March 1st.
But across the country students protested at President Suharto's reappointment and demonstrating their displeasure as the election took place.
The outcome of Indonesia's Presidential election was never in doubt, as Suharto was the only candidate nominated by the country's five political factions.
Criticism over the government's handling of the current economic crisis has been heard around the nation in the past few weeks.
But none was evident at the Assembly, packed with Suharto loyalists.
A majority of the 500 member body were elected after a month-long campaign last May.
It was a landslide victory for the ruling Golkar Party after popular democracy activist Megawati Sukarnoputri was ousted from one of the other two legal political parties.
75 delegates were appointed by the politically neutral military.
Suharto's supporters were out in full force, feting their president as the only man who can save Indonesia from social and commercial turmoil .
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"When President Suharto was asked by the people of Indonesia to help this nation get out of the rut at that time he did that - handsomely so. The fact that you are now here, that I am surrounded by so many western press is testimony of that, and for that reason we have not waited and the people of Indonesia today have declared that we believe in this man. Of course, it's not just one man, it's going to be a lot of people with him to get us out of this problem."
SUPER CAPTION: Joop Ave, Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications
Political representatives filed through the home of Indonesia's President Suharto to offer congratulations for being re-elected to a seventh five-year term as president.
Military representatives preceded delegates from the other political factions.
Members of his ruling Golkar party followed, including Suharto's daughter Tutut.
Meanwhile Indonesian students waged protests in Yogyakarta as President Suharto was being re-elected by the National People's Assembly.
Their expression - and exasperation - took many different forms.
Music, religious chants and songs filled the air during a day-long rally at Muhammadiyah University.
Banners asking for relief from high prices, competed with those complaining of government incompetence and corruption.
A political skit featured a man covered in mud, who symbolised poverty and the lack of concern by the government.
And as the protest continued, banners were burned as students tried to show how helpless they felt.
Never the less the President will be sworn in to his new term Wednesday and he will start with expanded authority, thanks to new laws passed on Monday night.
The Assembly has not offered specifics on the new powers, other than to say the President will be authorised to take "speedy action" against threats.
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