Cage for Soeharto<\/p>\n
If everything goes according to plan, one of world's former
\nrichest and most powerful people, according to Forbes magazine,
\nwill soon be put in a "cage" in his own house. In other words,
\nplaced under house arrest.<\/p>\n
Following his forced resignation three years ago, former
\npresident Soeharto has been under investigation by the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office for abuse of power and practicing corruption,
\ncollusion and nepotism. The task has been taken on by the police.<\/p>\n
International networks already predict that the former
\ndictator will be tried by a special court within two month's
\ntime. The police are taking no chances and have imposed a ban on
\nSoeharto from leaving his bedroom. He is said to be confined to
\nhis bed with symptoms of Parkinson's disease and also suffering
\nfrom brain damage, at least according to his lawyers. Maybe its
\njust to scare away the law.<\/p>\n
Whether genuine or just a political trick to impress the
\nmedia, the 79-year old man has had to face a barrage of questions
\nfrom officers of the Attorney General Office, and later from the
\npolice, to which he has mostly responded with a hardly audible:
\n"I cannot remember the details, it has been so long ago".<\/p>\n
Often during the ordeal, a medical team has had to intervene,
\nat the request of Soeharto's highly paid lawyers, to prevent him
\nfrom losing consciousness. His blood pressure once rose to 190.<\/p>\n
"And where do you hide your money, overseas or under the
\nBengawan Solo River?" "Why don't you ask the Swiss ambassador
\nabout it?", his lawyers would interrupt.<\/p>\n
Originally, there were plans to remove the ailing man to other
\nlocations, even to the island of Onrust, to hide him from the
\nmarauding student hordes who consider the trial too slow, too
\nlate and too full of pretense on the part of the investigators.
\nThe students do not believe that Soeharto will ever be tried by a
\ncourt of justice in an earnest manner. He still wields immense
\npower and has people loyal to him, including high-ranking
\nofficials, if not the Attorney General himself.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid has repeatedly assured the former
\npresident he is willing to forgive him. What else does he need?<\/p>\n
To be very rich and to be president of your country is not
\neverything in the world without truly sacrificing for your
\npeople.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cage-for-soeharto-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }