Confiscate Soeharto's assets

Confiscate Soeharto's assets

From Rakyat Merdeka

The Supreme Court's ruling on Tommy Soeharto's case deeply
disturbs our conscience and sense of justice. It indicates that
the country's legal system and institutions cannot be relied upon
to solve the insurmountable problems faced by the nation.

The ruling did not take into consideration the damage to the
spirit of nationhood nor the possibility of the emergence of
anarchism.

In my opinion, we must immediately find a political solution
that leads to a political decision to prevent further damage to
the country.

We must first have the courage and the willingness to state
that former president Soeharto and certain tycoons, who brought
the country to bankruptcy, are the major causes of our current
plight.

In Soeharto's case it is rather problematic, but the country's
downfall is mostly due to his ample faults, among other things,
through his mismanagement.

The political solution I am suggesting is that the government,
together with the House of Representatives (DPR), produce a
special law pertaining to Soeharto as follows:
1. To exile or isolate Soeharto and his family for five years,
2. To confiscate two-thirds of the assets belonging to Soeharto
and his family for the benefit of the country and to allow them
to keep the balance.

The suggestion of exiling Soeharto and his family -- a bitter
decision indeed -- might sound strange at the outset. However
when one contemplates further, it could be the only and most
peaceful option.

Likewise, relating to certain tycoons who caused the country
to plunge into a deep economic crisis, the above law should also
encompass the following: 80 percent of these tycoons' assets
should be confiscated and they should be forbidden from leaving
the country for six years.

MAHYUDIN NAWAWI

Jakarta