Soeharto told to avoid trial, return 'fortune'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Violence in Aceh and the investigation into the
\nalleged corruption of former president Soeharto featured
\nprominently in the meeting between leaders of political parties
\nand President B.J. Habibie on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
National Awakening Party (PKB) founder Abdurrahman Wahid
\nsuggested Soeharto return the fortune he allegedly amassed during
\nhis 32-year rule to avoid facing a painful trial.<\/p>\n
\"It's too difficult to prove that Soeharto abused his power,\"
\nAbdurrahman, the chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's
\nlargest Islamic organization, said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who is better known as Gus Dur, made the
\nstatement after the meeting at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
\"A trial would take years and the verdict would be difficult
\nto enforce,\" said Abdurrahman. Instead of trying to recover
\nSoeharto's alleged wealth through formal channels, a panel of
\nMuslim experts should pardon him and confiscate his fortune,
\nAbdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
The money could then be used to feed the poor and stimulate
\neconomic growth, he said.<\/p>\n
According to Habibie, Abdurrahman raised the issue in his
\ncapacity as a \"wise man\".<\/p>\n
A formal probe into the wealth of Soeharto and his children
\nhas been put on hold while Soeharto recovers from a mild stroke
\nhe suffered in July.<\/p>\n
Other opposition leaders, including presidential hopefuls
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri and Amien Rais, have dismissed proposals
\nto pardon Soeharto, saying he should not escape justice.<\/p>\n
Both Megawati and Amien were absent from Tuesday's meeting.
\nAmien could not attend because his mother was ill in Surakarta,
\nCentral Java. Megawati, meanwhile, cited several technicalities
\nfor her refusal to attend the meeting, including the failure of
\nMinister\/State Secretary Muladi to specify whether she was being
\ninvited in her capacity as the chairwoman of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).<\/p>\n
Three PDI Perjuangan executives did attend the meeting, but
\none of Megawati's deputies, Kwik Kian Gie, said he was there in a
\npersonal capacity.<\/p>\n
Crescent Star Party (PBB) chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra also
\ndemanded Soeharto be brought to trial if there was evidence he
\ncommitted crimes or abused his power.<\/p>\n
\"I reject Gus Dur's suggestion that Soeharto's case be
\nresolved through 'Islamic law,'\" he said after attending the
\nmeeting with Habibie.<\/p>\n
Yusuf Hasyim of the Muslim Community Awakening Party (PKU)
\nagreed that Soeharto should be tried. \"As long as he is not
\ncondemned, tortured or abused.\"<\/p>\n
Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said Soeharto was yet to give
\nhis account for a number of political matters which occurred
\nduring the last months of his presidency, namely between March
\n11, 1998 and May 20, 1998.<\/p>\n
\"If he is really guilty, the government must have the courage
\nto say so, but if he's innocent the government must declare
\nthis,\" Akbar said.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan secretary-general Alex Litaay refused to
\ncomment, saying his party needed to discuss the results of the
\nmeeting first.<\/p>\n
According to Minister of Information Lt. Gen. Muhammad Yunus,
\nHabibie responded to the issue of the Soeharto investigation by
\npointing out how difficult it was for the Philippines to
\ninvestigate the corruption committed by its former president
\nFerdinand Marcos.<\/p>\n
\"Even after 16 years, a legal settlement (on Marcos) has still
\nnot been achieved,\" Yunus quoted Habibie as saying.<\/p>\n
Also during the meeting, National Mandate Party (PAN) deputy
\nchairman A.M. Fatwa told the President not to make promises he
\ncould not fulfill, particularly to the Acehnese.<\/p>\n
Fatwa, who was imprisoned for his outspokenness during the
\nSoeharto regime, said Habibie should end the suffering of people
\nin Aceh and other troubled provinces.<\/p>\n
\"The use of violence and the security approach should not be
\ncontinued. Please talk to Acehnese leaders like Hasan Tiro,\" said
\nFatwa, referring to the leader of the separatist Free Aceh
\nMovement who resides in Sweden.<\/p>\n
Yunus also said Justice Party (PK) president Nurmahmudi Ismail
\ndemanded the government settle the unrest and assist refugees in
\nAmbon, Maluku, Sambas and Aceh.<\/p>\n
The meeting at Merdeka Palace was attended by the leaders of
\n21 political parties.<\/p>\n
As Habibie was preparing to deliver his speech, he ordered his
\nsecurity guards to allow journalists to cover the speech. \"Let
\nthem stay here; this is the era of transparency,\" Habibie said
\nwhen he saw the guards asking journalists to leave the venue.<\/p>\n
Before the meeting, Habibie warmly greeted his guests. \"He
\nkissed my neck because I am too tall for him,\" Yusril said.<\/p>\n
After delivering his speech, the President invited the
\npolitical leaders to lunch to continue their discussion. PNI-
\nFront Marhaenis chairman Probosutedjo, who is also Soeharto's
\nhalf-brother, left the palace before the lunch.<\/p>\n
Habibie said he would invite the leaders of all 48 political
\nparties to Merdeka Palace next Friday to express his gratitude
\nfor their hard work during the elections. (prb\/swe)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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