Soeharto family may change stance on swap deal: Mediator
Soeharto family may change stance on swap deal: Mediator
BANDUNG (JP): The ongoing talks to recoup any state assets
allegedly amassed by former president Soeharto may falter due to
public discourse and controversy over them, a government mediator
said here on Monday.
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who President Abdurrahman Wahid
named as government representative in the negotiations, expressed
concern that extensive media reports of the controversy had
apparently prompted Soeharto's family to change their mind.
"From the recent talks, I perceived the intention of the
Cendana family to donate some of what they have (to the state),"
Susilo, who is also the minister of mines and energy, said in
reference to the former first family.
The family is sometimes called after the name of the Central
Jakarta street they live on.
Susilo admitted he had been negotiating with the family
since last month, but that no deal has been reached so far. He
said he feared the public debate would heat up the controversy.
Abdurrahman was the first to disclose the negotiations between
the government and Soeharto's family, who have named Siti
Hardijanti Rukmana their representative.
Abdurrahman expressed his optimism in Cairo on Sunday that
Soeharto would return US$25 billion of his wealth to the
government in exchange for the government's guarantee of the
former ruler's safety and a pardon if he is proven guilty by the
courts over his alleged massive corruption.
Soeharto, who resigned in May 1997, has been named a suspect
and is undergoing a series of questionings for his alleged abuse
of power to accrue wealth through his charitable foundations.
Anticipating the impact of the public controversy, Susilo
called on Soeharto's family to maintain their moral awareness and
commitment to continuing the talks.
"I wish and hope the family will take our moral call which may
make sense in a positive point of view," he remarked.
Susilo further said that Abdurrahman intended to appoint him
as the mediator due to his judgment that he was politically
competent to solve the case. At the same time, Attorney General
Marzuki Darusman will continue with the legal process, Susilo
said.
Marzuki said the government's move to reclaim some of
Soeharto's wealth would not effect the ongoing investigation into
the former strongman's alleged graft.
"The details of the return of Soeharto's ill-gotten wealth to
the state will be discussed after his trial," Marzuki told
reporters on Monday. He has pledged to submit the file on the
Soeharto case to the court before Aug. 10.
Marzuki further said that his office was not involved in the
efforts to recoup the state assets. He said it could not be
compromised with the ongoing legal procedures and there had been
no discussions about whether the attempt could reduce any
punishment for Soeharto.
"We do not see any connection between the two subjects, but it
is beyond the my authority," he remarked.
Meanwhile, House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar
Tandjung regretted the move of Soeharto's lawyers to report to
the United Nations Commission for Human Rights alleged human
rights violations during the interrogation of their client.
"The case should be settled domestically. We could settle it
by ourselves," said Akbar, who chairs the Golkar Party and was a
persistent supporter of Soeharto during his 32-year rule.
Soeharto's lawyers filed a complaint on Thursday to office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in
Switzerland against the Attorney General's Office on Thursday for
violating the rights of their client during investigations.
Akbar maintained that the lawyers' action underestimated the
country's existing laws.
He was sure that the existing laws could still be used to
handle Soeharto's case without international intervention.
(25/dja/jun)