George calls for criminal proceedings against Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): The scholar and government critic George Junus Aditjondro has called for criminal proceedings to be brought against former president Soeharto, saying there is already enough circumstantial evidence to prove that the latter amassed a fortune while in office.

Without a trial, foreign governments are unlikely to freeze Soeharto's assets abroad, George said on Thursday during the launch of his new book Dari Soeharto ke Habibie. Kedua Puncak Korupsi, Kolusi dan Nepotisme Rezim Orde Baru (From Soeharto to Habibie. The two peaks of corruption, collusion and nepotism in the New Order Regime).

"But at least as a political step... if the government wants to show its commitment (to a) clean government then he (President B.J. Habibie) should send official letters to the countries concerned to ask them to monitor the assets and prevent them from being sold or transferred," George told a packed media conference.

Soeharto allegedly amassed a fortune worth trillions of rupiah during his 32 years in power.

"The longer Habibie delays, the longer Soeharto has to transfer his assets," George added.

George returned here for a week-long visit on Sunday after spending the past three years in Australia. He fled there after police here placed him on the wanted list in connection with slandering Soeharto.

George, who lectures on the sociology of corruption at Australia's Newcastle University, is well-known for his research into the wealth of both Soeharto and Habibie. The results of his work are readily available on the Internet.

His new book details the known foreign assets of Soeharto, his family and his cronies.

The assets include five houses worth up to two million pounds owned by three of Soeharto's six children -- Sigit Harjojudanto, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, Siti Hediyati Prabowo -- and one half- brother, businessman Probosutedjo, in London. They also include five houses in the United States, several in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands and a sprawling ranch in New Zealand owned by Soeharto's youngest son, Hutomo Mandala Putra, who is also known as Tommy.

George also cites a forest concession in Suriname controlled by Soeharto's half-brother Raden Notosoewito, a luxury cruiser owned by Tommy berthed in Darwin, Australia, and several gas shipping companies owned by his sons in Singapore.

Hardiyanti, he said, owns the operational rights to 300 kilometers of toll roads in Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar and China.

Last month, Habibie appointed a team led by Attorney General A.M. Ghalib to investigate Soeharto's wealth. The team also includes representatives of the National Police and the Development and Finance Comptroller.

Soeharto has repeatedly stated that he has no money whatsoever in foreign banks.

George also said that he has yet to be contacted by the Attorney General's Office. Ghalib said last week that he planned to question those who have said Soeharto has stashed away a large fortune abroad.

"If the summons arrives, I will have to refuse it for practical reasons... I am a lecturer and I have students to take care of," George said.

Separately on Thursday, a member of the National Commission on Human Rights, Clementino dos Reis Amaral, echoed the strong public demand for the government to establish an independent team to investigate the wealth of Soeharto and his cronies.

However, Ghalib dismissed the notion on Wednesday, saying that his team was more than capable of handling the investigation.

Meanwhile, senior economist Frans Seda said on Thursday that the investigation should be broadened to include both current government officials and former officials who served under Soeharto.

Frans, an economic advisor to the President, said after meeting Habibie that the authorities should not hesitate to pursue the investigation into practices of corruption, collusion and nepotism, even though it could bring down many serving government officials.

Frans said investigations of former president Soeharto's wealth should be conducted within the framework of an overall probe into corruption, collusion and nepotism during his rule.

Many senior officials, including cabinet ministers, in the present government also held posts in the Soeharto government. (byg/prb)