Soeharto free, Gus Dur KO'd?

Soeharto free, Gus Dur KO'd?

From Rakyat Mederka

After Soeharto stepped down and Habibie, his New Order crony, succeeded him to the throne, every effort to bring Soeharto before the court seemed to have been without success. As proof, former attorney general Andi Ghalib, who once was given the nickname "hen" by the students, issued an order to discontinue a judicial investigation of Soeharto.

After Habibie fell, and Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, became president, the efforts to drag Soeharto to court have been time- consuming and like a play. This has led to reduced public trust of Attorney General Marzuki Darusman, who is valued as being always obedient to his ancestors.

Gus Dur's efforts to drag Soeharto to court seem to be in vain because Gus Dur has been acting alone, without the support of his assistants and the political elite. This was obvious after Gus Dur discharged National Police chief Rusdihardjo, and from the statements made by Mahfud, the defense minister, saying it would be better to forget about the Soeharto case. One Soeharto supporter, after judge Lalu Mariyun dismissed all charges against Soeharto, even dared say: "I am ready to die for the sake of defending Soeharto."

I do not think Soeharto's children or his cronies will be saved from the courts. For instance, Tommy has been sentenced to 18 months in jail, and Ratna Gusti Ayu has been charged in a drugs case. Bob Hasan and Syahril Sabirin are currently being scrutinized by the courts. Tutut and Soeharto's cronies that have never been brought to court will not be exempt from legal action.

Soeharto's being freed from all charges is a boomerang for Gus Dur, as it means Gus Dur is unable to meet the reform message as set forth in the decree of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on the elimination of corruption, collusion and nepotism involving Soeharto and his cronies. It is feared that Amien Rais will be able to drag Gus Dur before a MPR special session in due course. And if this happens, Soeharto's freedom will lead to Gus Dur being forced to step down.

E. SUHERMAN

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