Soeharto syndrome

Could it be that the medical world now has to solve a mystery called the Soeharto syndrome: loss of speech when charges of corruption, collusion and nepotism are made against him?

Former president Soeharto last week was once again being investigated by a House commission into his complicity in the allocation of state funds to a number of private institutions under his command, notably to sons, daughters and cronies.

Soeharto's family members, medical team and lawyers refused to give permission to meet with the former strongman on the grounds that he was too sick to talk coherently. An independent team of doctors appointed by the House of Representatives was not allowed to see even a shadow of the speechless man.

His lawyers stressed it was useless to bring a man incapable of speech before the tribunal. But, if forced to, he could at least scribble down a "yes" or "no".

I know a former Siliwangi Command colonel aged 85 who still remembers almost everything during his life. For instance, how many times he was married and how many grandchildren he has. Just in case Soeharto would be found guilty for abuse of power or corrupt practices and meted out a sentence by the court, President Abdurrahman Wahid would surely be willing to forgive him, provided the money, allegedly illegally amassed, is returned to the state.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta