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)