Amien, Albert vow to probe Soeharto
Amien, Albert vow to probe Soeharto
UJUNG PANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Politician Amien Rais
pledged on Monday to set up an independent team to investigate
former president Soeharto's allegedly ill-gotten wealth.
The chairman of the newly established National Mandate Party
(PAN) said, however, the team would need approval from President
B.J. Habibie and Armed Forces (ABRI) leaders before it could act.
"An investigation is the only way to prove whether or not
Soeharto has amassed a fortune," he said, urging Habibie to also
investigate alleged corruption by Soeharto's former aides,
including ministers, governors, regents and ABRI officers.
A similar intention to set up a team and investigate
Soeharto's wealth was expressed Monday at the same occasion by
Albert Hasibuan, a member of the National Commission on Human
Rights.
Albert, who also leads the independent Movement of Concerned
Citizens on State Assets (Gempita), said the team would comprise
members of government agencies and non-governmental
organizations. He also called for a presidential decree to supply
the team with a solid legal basis.
In Tangerang, West Java, legislator Saleh Khalid from the
United Development Party (PPP) vowed to campaign for the
establishment of a decree on the investigation into Soeharto's
wealth during the special session of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) scheduled for November. "PPP will fight (for the
decree) and if necessary it should be decided by a vote," Saleh
was quoted by Antara as saying on Monday.
Saleh said he did not believe Soeharto's recent statement
denying charges that he had accumulated a fortune worth trillions
of rupiah. "The government must have the courage to investigate
Soeharto's wealth but they seem to be reluctant, so an MPR decree
will be needed," Saleh added. Attorney General Andi Muhammad
Ghalib pledged last week to hunt for state assets allegedly
stashed overseas during Soeharto's 32-year tenure in power.
American magazine Forbes estimated in July that Soeharto, 77,
had a fortune worth $4 billion. A lawyer representing Soeharto
last week called on the government and the National Commission on
Human Rights to provide protection for the veteran ruler against
slanderous and humiliating remarks. (30/byg)