Soeharto sad over Prabowo's dismissal

JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto could not hide his sadness when he heard recently that his son-in-law Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto was dismissed from the military for involvement in the abductions of political activists, sources said on Saturday.

One source said Soeharto rarely talked with Prabowo, especially since his resignation as president on May 21, despite the fact that they live on the same street, Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.

Prabowo's relationship with Soeharto's five other children was described as cool.

"Pak Harto was very sad but fully understood why his son-in- law should leave the military," the reliable source said.

The source said that Prabowo's friends were slowly deserting him.

Soeharto, however, is facing a similar situation as fewer people visit him nowadays, the source said.

Prabowo reportedly did not have many activities at home because his only son Ragowo Hedi Prasetyo is studying in the United States and his wife Siti Hediati Prabowo sometimes stayed with the teenager there.

Prabowo was apparently eager for his son to follow in his career in the military, so he often took him to military training camps. His son, however, showed little interest in military affairs, the source said.

"The couple plans to perform umrah, the minor pilgrimage, in Mecca this month because they want to begin a new life in their marriage," said another source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Prabowo, his wife and son Ragowo went to Mecca in November last year for the same pilgrimage, along with the entire Soeharto's clan.

It was not immediately clear what Prabowo's plans were for the future. It was likely that he would help with his wife's business enterprises and charities.

Hediati controls the Maharani business group.

However, he is still avoiding publicity, at least for now, the source said.

"He spends more time now for religious activities," said the source.

It has also been reported that Soeharto has made a recorded interview with the TPI television station, which is owned by his eldest daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana.

Soeharto has promised that the interview would be broadcast as soon as the Attorney General's Office announces the results of its investigation into Soeharto's five charitable foundations.

"Bapak feels sad because many of his former trusted aides, who always praised him in the past, suddenly denounce him now," said the source.

Attorney General Andi Muhammad Ghalib said on Tuesday that a preliminary investigation found indications of misuse of the funds of one of the foundations. (prb)