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