Battling graft key to RI progress: U.S.

Battling graft key to RI progress: U.S.

WASHINGTON (AFP): The United States has reaffirmed its
position that rooting out graft is key to economic growth
following Jakarta's move charging former Indonesian president
Soeharto with corruption.

"Combating corruption through legal action and by improving
the way business and government operate is essential to economic
progress and good governance, not only in Indonesia but in all
nations," the State Department said in a statement.

The statement did not directly refer to the longtime leader
and former Washington ally and said decisions on how to prosecute
graft had to be made by Indonesians themselves.

"It's up to the Indonesian people and their government to
decide how to pursue specific corruption investigation and
prosecution," said the statement, released on Thursday.

"Given popular calls for firm and resolute investigation and
follow up of this matter in Indonesia, we expect that the issue
of corruption will continue to be the focus of debate and legal
action there," it added.

State prosecutors charged Soeharto with corruption on
Thursday, bringing him a step closer to a criminal trial.

He is charged with embezzling US$550 million during his iron-
fisted 32-year rule, which started when he catapulted to power as
a young army general on the heels of a failed coup in 1965 blamed
on communists.

"The U.S. government has long held that corruption is the most
serious impediment to economic growth and respect for law in
developing countries" the State Department said.