Megawati may 'pardon' Soeharto, aide says

Megawati may 'pardon' Soeharto, aide says

SEMARANG (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri would be lenient as
president and pardon Soeharto if he was tried and convicted of
alleged crimes during his presidency, her aide Dimyati Hartono
said here on Friday.

The noted law professor and deputy chairman of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) was commenting on
the recent proposal to apply "political penance" on the five-star
general for alleged corruption and abuse of power during his 32-
year rule. Megawati is PDI Perjuangan's chairwoman.

First to offer the proposal was Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman
Abdurrahman Wahid, who said Soeharto should be made to return the
fortune he allegedly amassed during his rule and be absolved by a
panel of Muslim scholars. Pros and cons about the idea have been
bandied about in the past several days.

"If Soeharto is brought to trial and found guilty, he might
probably be sentenced to only three months (imprisonment). And
after that he could ask for the president's pardon," Dimyati
said.

"And if the president is Megawati, I believe she will pardon
him," Dimyati told the media before attending a seminar here.

The matter would then be resolved, he said.

"Once Soeharto received a court sentence, his status would be
clear in the eyes of his family, the public and international
world," he said.

Dimyati stressed that applying only a political solution to
the case was not a good idea because the investigation of
Soeharto and circle of relatives and business associates must
proceed.

"If we let him go just because he has contributed a lot to
this country... that will be a bad example of law enforcement."

Observers and rivals have criticized Megawati for taking too
lenient a stance on Soeharto's alleged abuse of power. Zarkasih
Nur of the United Development Party (PPP) expressed doubt that
Megawati was committed to the prosecution of Soeharto.

In her policy speech on July 29, Megawati said: "What should
be done in relation to former president Soeharto is to have a
direct and thorough investigation." She added that if he was
found guilty, the justice system to be set up by her government
would make sure that he was punished.

Meanwhile, Abdurrahman's deputy Said Aqiel Siradj agreed that
only the courts should determine Soeharto's fate.

"Guilty or not guilty... it is up to the court to decide," he
said.

"Even if after trial Soeharto is declared free because he had
once been of great service to the country, the court has to make
that decision. Not us."

Said strongly opposed Abdurrahman's proposal to exempt
Soeharto from legal prosecution.

Abdurrahman, also the founder of the National Awakening Party,
has argued it would be difficult to prove abuse of power by
Soeharto.

"The law must be enforced," Said reiterated.

Even if Abdurrahman wanted to pardon Soeharto, he said: "It is
his idea. Not mine. I don't agree with this notion of penance...
Again, let the courts decide." (har/edt)