Gus Dur seeks pointers on democracy in Chile

JAKARTA (Agencies): President Abdurrahman Wahid said Saturday that he hoped to gain pointers during his visit to Chile about ways to ease the transition from authoritarian rule to democracy.

"We have come here to learn," the President was quoted by AFP as saying on late Saturday as he arrived in Santiago at dusk for a meeting with President Ricardo Lagos at the La Moneda presidential palace.

Abdurrahman said he hoped in particular to learn about Santiago's handling of human rights concerns, as Indonesia emerges from the shadow of rule by former president Soeharto.

Abdurrahman was on the last leg of a Latin American tour that took him to Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela, where he attended an OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) summit.

His stops in Chile on Saturday were also intended to strengthen bilateral relations and boost trade.

Indonesia and Chile share similar political profiles, as both seek to shake free of legacies of autocratic rule.

Former dictator Augusto Pinochet is accused of human rights abuses during his regime in Chile, where there are currently 171 lawsuits pending against him, many stemming from his role in the so-called "caravan of death," in which government forces killed or abducted as many as 3,000 political prisoners.

Pinochet, who ruled from 1973-1990, was stripped of his immunity from prosecution in August.

Meanwhile, the South Jakarta District Court decided on Thursday that Soeharto, 79, could not stand trial on charges on cheating the state out of US$571 million because of health concerns.

Abdurrahman said, however, that Soeharto can still be tried and that he is prepared to pardon the ex-leader after a sentence has been imposed.

"There are other situations we have to investigate the participation of former president Soeharto and I think there will be a sentencing in one of those cases," Abdurrahman was quoted by AP as saying.

"But once that sentence has been issued, then I will grant him a pardon," he added.

Abdurrahman earlier stated his dissatisfaction with the ruling of a five-judge panel that Soeharto was medically and mentally unfit to face trial.

While insisting that Soeharto must face trial, Abdurrahman made clear that the rulings by the courts must be respected.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung said on Sunday that "if there is sufficient evidence, Soeharto can be tried for cases other than the alleged graft in the seven foundations".

Similarly, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais when asked by journalists replied: "Why not try Soeharto for other cases as long as there's solid proof? But again, it must be done according to existing procedures and it depends on his health, too".

Buenos Aires

In a separate development, during a brief visit to Buenos Aires on Saturday, Abdurrahman met with Argentine President Fernando de la Rua and discussed preparations for the next Group of 15 gathering of developing nations, which is to take place in Jakarta.

Argentina rejoined the G-15 after De la Rua became president on Dec. 10, 1999.

Argentina's Foreign Minister Adalberto Rodriguez Giavarini was quoted by AFP as saying that De la Rua and Abdurrahman had also discussed technology linked to peaceful uses of nuclear power and education, among other topics.

The Indonesian and Argentine leaders expressed their hopes for boosting bilateral trade, which grew from $63.5 million in 1991 to $168.8 million in 1999, according to Argentina's National Institute for Statistics and Census (INDEC).

Abdurrahman was also expected to discuss trade with President Lagos of Chile. Chile and Indonesia are both members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, but their trade links were severely tested by the Asian financial crisis which began in 1997.

Trade between Chile and Indonesia was valued at $264.5 million in 1997 but dropped to $164.3 million the following year, according to the central bank in Santiago. Trade grew 16 percent in 1999 but has yet to fully recover.

Abdurrahman was scheduled to leave Santiago on Sunday and travel to Canada. (byg/edt)