Amien, Albert vow to probe Soeharto<\/p>\n
UJUNG PANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Politician Amien Rais
\npledged on Monday to set up an independent team to investigate
\nformer president Soeharto's allegedly ill-gotten wealth.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the newly established National Mandate Party
\n(PAN) said, however, the team would need approval from President
\nB.J. Habibie and Armed Forces (ABRI) leaders before it could act.<\/p>\n
"An investigation is the only way to prove whether or not
\nSoeharto has amassed a fortune," he said, urging Habibie to also
\ninvestigate alleged corruption by Soeharto's former aides,
\nincluding ministers, governors, regents and ABRI officers.<\/p>\n
A similar intention to set up a team and investigate
\nSoeharto's wealth was expressed Monday at the same occasion by
\nAlbert Hasibuan, a member of the National Commission on Human
\nRights.<\/p>\n
Albert, who also leads the independent Movement of Concerned
\nCitizens on State Assets (Gempita), said the team would comprise
\nmembers of government agencies and non-governmental
\norganizations. He also called for a presidential decree to supply
\nthe team with a solid legal basis.<\/p>\n
In Tangerang, West Java, legislator Saleh Khalid from the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) vowed to campaign for the
\nestablishment of a decree on the investigation into Soeharto's
\nwealth during the special session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) scheduled for November. "PPP will fight (for the
\ndecree) and if necessary it should be decided by a vote," Saleh
\nwas quoted by Antara as saying on Monday.<\/p>\n
Saleh said he did not believe Soeharto's recent statement
\ndenying charges that he had accumulated a fortune worth trillions
\nof rupiah. "The government must have the courage to investigate
\nSoeharto's wealth but they seem to be reluctant, so an MPR decree
\nwill be needed," Saleh added. Attorney General Andi Muhammad
\nGhalib pledged last week to hunt for state assets allegedly
\nstashed overseas during Soeharto's 32-year tenure in power.<\/p>\n
American magazine Forbes estimated in July that Soeharto, 77,
\nhad a fortune worth $4 billion. A lawyer representing Soeharto
\nlast week called on the government and the National Commission on
\nHuman Rights to provide protection for the veteran ruler against
\nslanderous and humiliating remarks. (30\/byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/amien-albert-vow-to-probe-soeharto-1447893297",
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