Soebandrio steers clear of politics

Soebandrio steers clear of politics

JAKARTA (JP): Former foreign minister Soebandrio, one of three
political prisoners pardoned by President Soeharto last week,
said yesterday that he would not politick after his release on
Aug. 16.

"It is useless," he told reporters who interviewed him and
Omar Dhani, another political prisoner, at the Cipinang prison in
East Jakarta.

President Soeharto granted clemency on Friday to Soebandrio,
who was also president Sukarno's deputy prime minister, vice
marshal Omar Dhani, former minister/air force chief, and police
brigadier general R. Soegeng Soetarto, former deputy chief of the
Indonesian Intelligence Agency, of which Soebandrio was the boss.

They were convicted by a special military tribunal in 1966 and
1973 for their roles in the 1965 communist coup attempt.

They were sentenced to death but President Soeharto later
reduced the sentence to life imprisonment.

Soeharto, according to the announcement, freed the men for
humanitarian reasons.

Soebandrio, 81, said yesterday that at this age he saw no
benefit in politicking.

"I'll turn 82 in September and am now thinking only about the
world-here-after in order not to be thrown into hell," he said.

Soebandrio, a physician-turned-politician, said he was
suffering from high-blood pressure and a hernia.

He added that he is struggling to survive with yoga and walks.

"I tell you frankly, serving a jail term is a bitter
experience, very bitter for me. But it is better to serve it than
to be dumped into hell after death."

He said that God Almighty had been very kind to him and had
granted him the chance to devote his life entirely to Him.

According to Soebandrio, a Moslem, he did not pay attention to
his faith while in power.

"I could not read the Holy Koran then and was not disciplined
in performing daily prayers," he said. He added that God had been
so kind by "telling him 'you should have been more careful in
your life.'"

Soebandrio refused to express an opinion about his release. He
said he could not say anything until he was free. "I'm afraid of
a possible slip of the tongue because it might back-fire on me."

"Later, when I'm free you can ask about anything but
politics," he said, adding that at the moment he could only
express his gratitude to God for his benevolence and thank the
President for his generosity.

Asked when he first was informed about the presidential
clemency, Soebandrio said he had not been officially informed.

He found out from the radio and later that day watched TV.

Soebandrio said he never expected clemency would be granted
because he had heard rumors about it for three years and nothing
happened.

He added that he had been begging God that he would not die in
prison.

"Now I sincerely thank Pak (Father) Harto for his brave
decision."

He said he understood that it was not easy to free Soebandrio
and Omar Dhani. "I know it because I held power once," he said.

He added that he was a politician who had both friends and
enemies. "But this clemency was really beyond expectation," he
said.

Meanwhile, Omar Dhani, 71, said he was suffering from low-
blood pressure but found it difficult to have it checked. "Pak
Ban (Soebandrio) used to have a sphygmomanometer but it doesn't
work now."

Asked what he would do after he is freed, Omar said he would
spend his time at home with his family. "I want to be familiar
with my family because the youngest among my children was only
five months old when I was arrested. Now he has his own
children," he said.

Omar said that his daily activities in prison included reading
and weight lifting.

He also said that he understood that the presidential decision
was based on humanitarian reasons. "It is a very wise decision,"
he said.

Asked whether he saw it as having a connection to the fall of
communist regimes in eastern Europe, Omar said "I don't know. Pak
Harto knows better."

The most important thing for him, he said, is freedom and to
be with his family.

Soetarto, 77, the former intelligence deputy chief, could not
be reached because he was being hospitalized. (tis/03)