The Soeharto show<\/p>\n
The corruption investigation of former president Soeharto has
\ndragged on aimlessly for the last five months that it has become
\nnothing more than a pathetic little public show. The only problem
\nis that we are not sure who is the more pathetic of the two
\nparties in this spectacle: Is it the sick old man who is cunning
\nand still so powerful he does not have to answer to the law? Or
\nis it the government, that seems completely helpless in its
\nattempts to pin something on the man who wreaked havoc on the
\nnation during 32 years of misrule?<\/p>\n
After five months, the investigation by Attorney General
\nMarzuki Darusman still has nothing to show since Soeharto was
\ndeclared a suspect in a multi-trillion scam involving his tax-
\nfree charity foundations. Proclaiming ill health, the former
\ntyrant has defied one summons after another.<\/p>\n
When Soeharto and his defense team finally agreed to meet with
\ninvestigators at his residence, on both occasions the questioning
\nwas abruptly cut short by doctors because of his deteriorating
\nhealth. At the rate of one session and one question a week, the
\ninvestigation is not going anywhere anytime soon. Even the most
\nboring Indonesian or Latin teledrama would have ended or neared
\nits conclusion by now.<\/p>\n
The government's decision last week to place Soeharto under
\ncity arrest and forbid overseas travel appears to be a desperate
\nmeasure to revive public support, because the arrest will not
\nchange the pace of the investigation. The arrest and travel ban
\nwere poorly executed public relation exercises by a government
\nagency that knows it is fast losing its credibility because it
\nhas been outwitted by Soeharto and his lawyers.<\/p>\n
One can be sure that Soeharto will not leave the country any
\ntime soon because Indonesia remains the safest haven on Earth for
\nhim. Going by the experience of fellow fallen dictator Augusto
\nPinochet of Chile -- who was arrested for months in Britain based
\non extradition documents issued in Spain -- Soeharto would be
\nwise not to leave the country.<\/p>\n
At this time, it may be worth pondering the question, \"What is
\nthe real objective of this investigation?\" This is something that
\nthe government of President Abdurrahman Wahid never really
\nspelled out since reopening the case in December.<\/p>\n
If the goal is to show that justice will be upheld in this
\ncountry, then surely corruption, as bad as it is, is the least
\nsinful misdeed that Soeharto committed during his 32 years of
\ntyrannical rule. What about the atrocities, from the summary
\nexecutions of suspected communists to the killing of people in
\nEast Timor, Irian Jaya, Aceh and Tanjung Priok? If the government
\nwants to show that justice and the rule of law prevail in this
\ncountry, then these and the other heinous crimes committed during
\nhis reign should be the reasons for the prosecution of Soeharto.
\nNot corruption.<\/p>\n
If the goal of the corruption investigation is to recover the
\nmoney which Soeharto is supposed to have embezzled, surely the
\ngovernment should target his children and cronies who reaped the
\nmost benefit from his years in power.<\/p>\n
Earlier official and independent investigations determined
\nthat 78-year old Soeharto owned very little and that most of the
\nfamily's wealth was in his children's names. If the government
\nwere serious about recovering some of that money, then it should
\nsequester their wealth and property here and abroad. Indonesia
\ncould learn a thing or two from the experience of the Philippine
\ngovernment's efforts to recover loot stolen by Ferdinand Marcos.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the government's choice of investigating the
\nactivities of Soeharto's charity foundations is not without risk.
\nIf it's is not careful, the investigation could turn Soeharto
\ninto a hero in this drama, because the charity organizations have
\nspent heavily building hospitals and orphanages and funding other
\nsocial projects beneficial to the public.<\/p>\n
The corruption investigation against Soeharto now seems to
\nhave lost all sense of direction. Yet, to a large extent, the
\ncredibility of President Abdurrahman's administration hinges on
\nits ability to prosecute the former president. The government
\nneeds to redefine its goals now if this investigation is to be
\ntaken seriously by the public. This poorly scripted show needs a
\nnew writer, or some new players. Most of all, it needs an ending
\n-- a happy one if possible -- and soon.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-soeharto-show-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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