Gus Dur seeks pointers on democracy in Chile

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)