It was all President's idea, says Yusril

It was all President's idea, says Yusril

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said
on Tuesday that the idea of revoking all charges against former
president Soeharto was the initiative of President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, with ministers only being asked to provide input
on the matter.

"I want to stress that it was not my idea, but purely from
President Megawati," he replied, when asked by journalists during
a visit to a penitentiary in Tangerang, Banten.

Yusril claimed that he had merely put forward two fundamental
points for the President to consider: The first was that she
could revoke charges against Soeharto based on humanitarian
grounds, given his poor state of health.

The second was that by revoking the charges she could be in
violation of People's Consultative Assembly Decree No. IX.1998,
which instructed the president to wipe out corruption, collusion
and nepotism.

"If this is not thought through properly the government could
be considered inconsistent in its efforts to eradicate
corruption," Yusril said, as quoted by Antara.

While conceding that the President had the right to revoke the
charges, Yusril said he stressed the importance of first seeking
the support of the legislature.

According to Yusril the President had yet to formally dispatch
a letter seeking the House of Representative's consideration on
the matter.

Under the Constitution the president is given the authority
to, among other things, revoke charges (abolition) or grant an
amnesty.

Meanwhile, friends of the ailing president said Soeharto could
be released from hospital this week.

Business tycoon Sudwikatmono said, after visiting Soeharto at
Pertamina hospital, that Soeharto's condition was improving.

"Maybe this week. But it's really up to the doctors," he said.

Similarly, former vice president Sudharmono said Soeharto's
condition had improved.

"But it will still be a few days before he recovers," he
added.