George calls for criminal proceedings against Soeharto

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)