CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0001393492
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 22, 2015
• Document Release Date: November 20, 2009
• Case Number: F-2006-00081
• Publication Date: March 24, 1978

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CIA INFO DATE: 09-Oct-2009
 Indonesian President Suharto was re-
elected to a third five-yeir term on 22
March by it proforma unanimous vote of
the National Assembly.
Suharto and his military colleaguLs
have ruled the country since the abortive
Communist coup attempt in 1965, and
there is no immediate challenge to the
Army's continuing in power. The election
nevertheless occurred against a back-
ground of heightened tensions and increas-
ingly open student criticism of military
rule in general and Suharto's toleration of
corruption in particular, especially within
his own family. Suharto's religious policies
and certain economic problems--poor
agricultural performance. unemployment,
and a possible widening income gap
between the rich and the poor--could also
contribute to the President's vulnerability.
Students at almost all major universities
have been engaged in disruptive strikes
and demonstrations since last fall. The
President's decision in January to arrest
demonstrating students and prevent news-
papers from reporting their activities may
have been counterproductive. High school
students recently joined the ranks of
student demonstrators, and the govern-
ment deemed it necessary to close several
educational institutions. Two days before
the election, a small terrorist group
succeeded in setting off an explosion in the
National Assembly building.
The President was also embarrassed by
the decision of Vice President Sultan
Iiantcngku [3uwono not to stand with
Suharto for reelection. The Sultan is a
respected civilian whose status gave a
democratic appearance to the authoritar-
ian government.
Buwono's departure from the ticket
may have caused disagreement between
Suharto and some of his high-level
military advisers who did not approve of
the President's choice for a replacement---
former Foreign Minister and now Parlia-
ment Chairman Adam Malik. Malik is a
well-known civilian who will lend balance
to the ticket, but he has a history of
disagreeing with government policy-
occasionally in public--and some of the
generals find him too outspoken and
independent.
The President's insistence on obtaining
recognition of mysticism as an official
religion, moreover, has alienated many
orthodox Muslims. This week it prompted
the Muslim-dominated opposition party to
break with the traditional display of
assembly unity by voting against govern.
ment policies and staging a walkout. The
unprecedented move may embolden the
opposition to challenge Suharto in parlia-