Former President Soeharto's Family Support Prabowo

Denpasar, Bali (Antara) - The family of the late former president Soeharto supports presidential candidate retired army lieutenant general Prabowo Subianto, a member said here on Saturday. "We have agreed to support Prabowo to be Indonesia's next leader so that Pak (Mr) Harto's ideals will be realized, namely a prosperous Indonesia," Titiek Soeharto, who is also Subianto's former wife, said at a campaign rally. The reason for choosing Prabowo is that he is a strong man and authoritative, she said, adding that Indonesia needs a strongman. "I have been with him while he was still chief of a battalion and later chief of an Army Strategic Reserve Command's Division and commander of the Army's Kopassus Special Forces. Prabowo has carried out his task well and he loves the country," she said. Indonesia needs a strong man because Indonesia is rich, but its richness has so far been enjoyed by other countries, she said. In view of that, she called on the Balinese to vote for Prabowo in the election on July 9. When she took the stage, people attending the campaign event shouted that she and Prabowo had remarried. Prabowo took the opportunity to kiss Titiek on the cheek when he was on stage. (*)