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.