Soeharto's maneuver<\/p>\n
As if to challenge his critics, Soeharto (this week) visited
\nthe National Police Headquarters to press charges against Time
\nmagazine, which he considered to have defamed him. As is commonly
\nknown, this reputable international news magazine in its late May
\nedition presented its readers with a report on the alleged
\nbusiness empire of Soeharto, his family and his cronies.<\/p>\n
Soeharto had earlier visited the Attorney General's Office to
\npresent it with a mandate to investigate Time's report that not
\nlong after the former president's downfall, about Rp 120 trillion
\n(US$15 billion), belonging to Soeharto, his family, and\/or his
\ncronies, was transferred from one country to another.<\/p>\n
The question is, does our judiciary have the fortitude to try
\nSoeharto's case against Time now -- that is, before he is
\nprosecuted for corruption, as mandated by the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) Decree No. XII, 1998? This whole case
\nis too delicate to be taken to court immediately, given the fact
\nthat its political dimensions far outweigh the legal ones.<\/p>\n
Two options are open to the government, or in this case the
\nAttorney General's Office. First, it could investigate the data
\npresented by the Time report as part of the efforts to gather
\ninformation to back the investigation of corruption charges
\nagainst Soeharto. Second, it could follow the procedure common in
\ncases involving the press -- that is, it could give Time the
\nopportunity to properly reply to Soeharto's charges (of
\ndefamation).<\/p>\n
To judge by the developments, it appears that both sides in
\nthe dispute are resolved to stand by their claims and reject any
\nsuggestion of apologizing or paying compensation. Provided that
\nit is handled correctly, this particular process could make a
\nvaluable contribution in the context of bringing about total
\nreform as demanded by the people. On the other hand, if it is
\nhandled according to the pace and tradition common in Indonesian
\nlegal practice so far, the whole thing would only become yet
\nanother farce.<\/p>\n
-- Republika, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soehartos-maneuver-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }