Soeharto sad over Prabowo's dismissal

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)