Soeharto tells Keating his policies were appropriate

JAKARTA (JP): Former Australian prime minister Paul Keating has maintained that former Indonesian president Soeharto was ready to answer allegations of corruption should such charges be brought against him.

Keating, during his 1991 to 1996 term as prime minister, was known to have a close friendship with Soeharto and made no less than half-a-dozen visits here. Keating was in Indonesia as a speaker during last week's Indonesia Forum.

Despite no longer being in office, the rapport between them has continued and Keating on Thursday visited Soeharto at his residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.

"Soeharto said to me that he was prepared to face such an inquiry," Keating told journalists here on Saturday.

"I said to him and others that any such inquiry should be public... what's important is that the process remains credible," he added.

There has been increasing public pressure on President B.J. Habibie's government to investigate his predecessor over alleged corruption during his 32-year rule. Students have attempted to march to Soeharto's residence in protest in the past few days.

According to Keating, Soeharto appeared to be staunch in his belief that the policies implemented, focusing on human development, were appropriate. Unfortunately this often neglected political pluralism.

The two discussed the crisis in Indonesia at some length.

When pressed by journalists on whether he himself had pursued the subject of possible power abuses and corruption during his meeting with Soeharto, Keating remarked: "I wasn't there running an inquisition."

He added that Soeharto seemed to be no longer engaged in politics. Keating remarked that the 77-year-old former president looked very healthy and had even lost some weight.

In the last year of Soeharto's rule, doctors had urged him to lose weight to improve his health.

"I must say he looked very well and fit. He's taken off weight and says he's exercising," Keating remarked.

When asked for his own assessment of the situation in the country, Keating acknowledged that some sectors of the economy were showing signs of improvement.

But it will still be political developments which will become the determinants of recovery, he said.

"In the end, Indonesia's going to be very competitive.

"(But) In the short run it's going to be politics which governs the confidence of business," he said.

One weakness, according to Keating, is that despite the economic progress achieved by the country, "the political structure has not developed with the country".

Asked about his views on the political role of the Armed Forces (ABRI), Keating said that ideally it should not be involved in politics. However, he was quick to note that "this (Indonesian politics) is a structure in transition."

He pointed out that as changes occurred a redefinition in various areas would have to be made.

After meeting with Soeharto, Keating met on Friday with Habibie and later Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto.

Keating said Wiranto acknowledged the strong public demands placed upon him following the tragic shootings at the Semanggi cloverleaf.

"I think he is well aware of the immense pressures (for change)" being placed on the political and military process, Keating said. (mds)