Fate and fortunes<\/p>\n
Besieged in his home city, the sick and frail old man who once
\nruled Indonesia like a personal fiefdom is experiencing the fate
\nthat befalls so many despots once they are overthrown.<\/p>\n
It is not certain whether the 79-year-old former president
\nSoeharto can hear the calls of militant students who surround his
\nhouse and bay for a hanging. But he cannot fail to be aware of
\nthe public clamor to bring him to justice for alleged corruption.<\/p>\n
Life would be quieter if authorities do decide, as they are
\nconsidering, to take him into safe custody and conduct
\nquestioning in a less-hostile atmosphere. And peace may return to
\nthe Jakarta streets once protesters are convinced that although
\nit has acted with exasperating slowness the attorney-general's
\noffice is sincere about pursuing the case.<\/p>\n
With their father's backing, it was the Soeharto children who
\ncreamed off so much of the country's wealth as the nation
\naccumulated heavy foreign debt. Their combined fortune is reputed
\nto be somewhere in the region of U.S.$15 billion. Comparatively
\nlittle of the proceeds from seven dubious charitable foundations
\nbacked by Mr. Soeharto seems to have remained in his hands, but
\nit may be difficult to find where all of it is hidden.<\/p>\n
If the family's property and assets had been sequestered
\nimmediately after Mr. Soeharto's fall in May 1998 the process
\nwould be much simpler. At this stage, tracing the network of oil
\nholdings, bank accounts and property secreted away in various
\nparts of the world promises to be a Herculean task. Already a New
\nZealand ranch owned by one of his children has been sold for a
\nnominal sum.<\/p>\n
Belatedly, the Government seems determined to recover the
\nmoney and bring Mr. Soeharto to court in August. But it is his
\nchildren who should answer to their countrymen over their illicit
\nfortunes. If their wealth can be returned to the people, justice
\nwill have been seen to be done.<\/p>\n
-- The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fate-and-fortunes-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }