East Java Muslim clerics meet Soeharto<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Adding fuel to rumors ahead of the April 5 elections, Muslim
\nclerics from East Java met former president Soeharto at the
\nlater's residence on Monday.<\/p>\n
Saying the meeting was merely a courtesy call, the 13 clerics
\nwere divided into two groups, each of which was granted a 10-
\nminute meeting with the former strongman at his home on Jl.
\nCendana in upmarket Menteng, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Soeharto was accompanied by his eldest daughter, Siti \"Tutut\"
\nHardijanti Rukmana.<\/p>\n
\"We were just returning the visit of Mbak Tutut to our
\nboarding school. There was no political discussion -- only a
\ncourtesy visit,\" cleric Zamzami from Lirboyo Muslim boarding
\nschool, East Java, said after the meeting.<\/p>\n
The meeting was said to have been requested by the clerics,
\nfollowing Tutut's visit to Lirboyo on Feb.19.<\/p>\n
Tutut stole the limelight recently when she appeared in a
\npolitical party function in Jakarta. R. Hartono, a retired army
\ngeneral and former aide of Soeharto, who established the Concern
\nfor the Nation Functional Party (PKPB), has publicly courted
\nTutut as the party's presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Clerics have always been part of Indonesia's political game as
\na result of the influence they wield over a huge number of
\nfollowers.<\/p>\n
The clerics said that the visit was also aimed at ascertaining
\nSoeharto's state of health, as he is said to have difficulty in
\nunderstanding and using words, after suffering from repeated
\nstrokes.<\/p>\n
Soeharto is slated to undergo another health examination to
\ndetermine his ability to stand trial for corruption.<\/p>\n
He was accused of enriching himself, his family and cronies
\nduring his 32-year authoritarian rule before he quit in May 1998
\nfollowing massive student protests.<\/p>\n
Several weeks ago, the former president received his old
\nfriend, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohammad.
\nSoeharto appeared to be in good health at the time.<\/p>\n
The clerics said that Soeharto mostly nodded at what they said
\nto him.<\/p>\n
A member of staff at the Cendana residence told The Jakarta
\nPost that the clerics hoped to convey a clear message to the
\npublic concerning Soeharto's health.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, if the clerics say that the former president is
\nsick, the public will believe them as it is a statement made by
\nsome of their religious leaders.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-java-muslim-clerics-meet-soeharto-1447893297",
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