Marzuki told to get tough with Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): Leading activists on Thursday called on the Attorney General's Office not to waste more time in taking firm action against former president Soeharto as his meeting with President Abdurrahman Wahid on Wednesday proved that his condition was not as bad as what his lawyers had been saying.

"Gus Dur's visit revealed that Soeharto's condition is not like what has so far been described by his lawyers and families," Hendardi of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) said in a statement, referring to the president by his popular name.

"Therefore, it is about time that the Attorney General's Office set a deadline for Soeharto to answer the summons for questioning," Hendardi added.

He said the deadline was crucial as the Soeharto case was "not moving anywhere now and the people are already fed up with empty promises".

Teten Masduki of Indonesian Corruption Watch shared Hendardi's opinion saying that Attorney General Marzuki Darusman should take tougher measures against Soeharto.

"It seems to me that Soeharto is well enough, so I think he should be forced to undergo questioning," Teten told The Jakarta Post.

"Soeharto has already been named as a suspect, so if he keeps ignoring the Attorney General's Office, he could be charged with obstruction of justice."

Soeharto has been named a suspect by the Attorney General's Office in a probe into alleged corruption during his 32-year rule.

Soeharto's lawyers, however, have repeatedly pleaded that their client is medically unfit to undergo questioning,

Last month the 78-year-old former strongman failed to answer a summons at the Attorney General's Office and he again failed on Wednesday to answer the prosecutor's request to undergo a medical examination at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital.

Head of corruption affairs at the Attorney General's Office Chaerul Imam said on Thursday the date for the medical checkup would be decided between the state-appointed doctors and Soeharto's medical team. (01/byg)