Factions agree on probe into Soeharto wealth<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Four of five factions in the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) openly urged the government during
\nthe general view session on Wednesday to intensify its drive to
\nprobe the wealth of former president Soeharto and his family.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces (ABRI) faction would only admit that in the
\npast there were rampant practices of corruption, nepotism and
\ncollusion, or known as KKN.<\/p>\n
Golkar demanded the government take legal measures against
\nthose guilty of corrupt practices including Soeharto, senior
\ngovernment officials and conglomerates.<\/p>\n
\"Including former president Soeharto whose policies benefited
\nhimself, his family and his cronies,\" said its spokeswoman Marwah
\nDaud Ibrahim.<\/p>\n
Thousands of students throughout the country continued their
\ncampaign to bring Soeharto to court. They alleged that President
\nB.J. Habibie did not have the guts to punish his past mentor.<\/p>\n
\"There should be firm... and consistent legal actions against
\nthose who have committed corruption, collusion and nepotism,\" she
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Marwah pointed out the government's seriousness in
\ninvestigating Soeharto's alleged corruption would play a decisive
\nrole in restoring people's confidence in it.<\/p>\n
\"The more senior a government official who is involved in
\ncorruption, the bigger the impact on the government's
\nlegitimacy,\" Golkar noted.<\/p>\n
The ABRI faction cited lack of morale and ethics among the
\ngovernment officials as the main source of corrupt behavior in
\nthe past.<\/p>\n
\"ABRI admits that in the past practices of corruption,
\ncollusion and nepotism occurred,\" its faction said.<\/p>\n
The faction's opinion was in turn delivered by ABRI's Chief of
\nSociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Navy
\nChief of Staff Vice Admiral Widodo A.S.<\/p>\n
The United Development Party (PPP) was the only faction which
\nproposed the promulgation of a special decree, apart from the 12
\nprepared drafts, to compel President B.J. Habibie to investigate
\nSoeharto's riches.<\/p>\n
\"We need an MPR decree for this, so that the President would
\nnot be able to avoid it,\" PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum said
\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n
ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto argued it was not necessary to
\nissue a separate decree on Soeharto as the issue was already
\ncovered by a draft decree on the eradication of corruption,
\ncollusion and nepotism.<\/p>\n
\"The MPR decrees only deal with strategic issues, not
\nindividual issues,\" Wiranto said.<\/p>\n
PPP spokesman Fahri Hamzah ridiculed those who used all the
\nmeans at their disposal for Soeharto's reelection during the MPR
\ngeneral session in March but now easily turned their backs and
\ndenounced him.<\/p>\n
\"Those who used all means in defiance of principles to help
\nthe New Order (Soeharto's regime) win now stand in the front line
\nof those condemning the New Order as if only they are the true
\nreformists,\" Fahri said.<\/p>\n
The regional representatives faction spokesman, Soerjadi
\nSoedirdja, also called on Habibie's government to take legal
\naction against Soeharto, his family and also former top aides.<\/p>\n
\"It must be processed in accordance with the prevailing laws,\"
\nsaid Soerjadi, former Jakarta governor.<\/p>\n
Separately Attorney General Muhammad Ghalib insisted that his
\noffice was still carrying out intensive investigations into
\nSoeharto's alleged fortune.<\/p>\n
\"We will continue our investigation,\" Ghalib said after having
\nan unexpected meeting with Habibie at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
The smallest faction, the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nsaid Soeharto was not above the law and he should be responsible
\nfor his past wrongdoings.<\/p>\n
\"The demands for Soeharto's trial reflect the deepest feelings
\namong the people,\" its spokesman Markus Wauran said. (team)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/factions-agree-on-probe-into-soeharto-wealth-1447893297",
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