Govt to pursue Soeharto case

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid asserted on Friday that the government would never give up hope on its corruption investigation of former president Soeharto.

"We have to find other ways (to bring Soeharto to trial) ... we should not give up hope on this matter," Abdurrahman said after Friday prayers in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

"Even if necessary we should try to hold the trial in Cendana," the President said referring to the street where Soeharto's residence is located.

"Frankly, this matter is very sensitive but we have to proceed to uphold the law," he added referring to the fact that the Soeharto trials were often accompanied by violent protests outside the court.

The South Jakarta district court decided last month to drop all charges against Soeharto after an independent medical team of 24 doctors declared that the former president was too ill, both physically and mentally, to stand trial.

However, prosecutors immediately filed an appeal against the court ruling.

The President has openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the court ruling saying that the government would seek to replace the judges presiding over the case.

He also implied that the judges were not clean and that the government would look for replacements who were "clean, firm and cannot be bought".

Abdurrahman said last week that "there are a lot of charges" against Soeharto and that the government would continue to pursue corruption charges against the former strongman and his family.

The decision to drop all charges against Soeharto was immediately met with widespread public criticism and violent student protests.(byg)