Soeharto's cronies may score victory: Observers

Soeharto's cronies may score victory: Observers

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Soeharto's cronies, relatives and lawyers have a litany of
excuses to convince the public why his case must be dropped:
degenerative illness, old age, physical frailty and dementia.

Not only that. Once called "the father of development" by his
admirers, Soeharto is being portrayed as a man who has done great
service to the country.

But detractors say that the claims are mere propaganda by the
New Order president's supporters who are afraid their past crimes
will also be revealed if Soeharto goes to court.

The problem is that many of Soeharto's friends still wield
power, holding key positions in various state institutions, from
the House of Representatives and State Secretariat to the
military.

State/Cabinet Secretary Bambang Kesowo, Minister of Justice
and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra, House of Representatives
Speaker Akbar Tandjung, People's Consultative Assembly Deputy
Speaker Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Attorney General MA Rachman, and
Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Hari Sabarno are a
few among those mentioned.

"It is not surprising that they would do everything in their
power to protect their former boss for their own good," said
political observer Budyatna of the University of Indonesia.

What is most worrying is that if Soeharto's case is dropped it
would also block efforts to bring his cronies and relatives to
court because he is the central figure in the corruption saga.

"Soeharto's trial will disclose involvement of his former
aides," said Hermawan Sulistyo of the National Institute of
Sciences (LIPI). "If Soeharto is tried he will mention the names
of aides who helped him commit unlawful activities."

Soeharto, now on his sickbed in hospital, has been accused of
involvement in corruption worth US$571 million through the
numerous charity foundations he chaired while in power.

Megawati has not yet explained why she wants to revoke the
charges against Soeharto. On Wednesday, Yusril -- the one who
made the President's plan public -- cited the recent phone poll
by Kompas daily in which majority of respondents supported the
revoking of the charges.

Budyatna and Hermawan questioned the validity of the poll.

"The results of such media polling are questionable due to the
way its sample is determined and the methodology. The result can
mislead the public," said Budyatna.

Hermawan added "If the polling had been done with the right
procedure and methodology, I believe that the result would have
been different," he said.

They stressed that the pursuance of legal actions against
Soeharto would be vital for the government to demonstrate its
commitment to combating corruption.

But for some, the media polling is acceptable because it
reflects the views of the common people.

Ulil Abshar Abdalla of the Indonesian Conference on Religion
and Peace (ICRP), for example, believes that the poll shows that
many people can see the "positive side" Soeharto.

Ulil, a member of Nahdlatul Ulama, proposed that if the plan
to revoke the charges on Soeharto meets with strong opposition,
Megawati should consider the South-African style truth and
reconciliation commission.

The commission will allow the public to know what Soeharto has
done, both good and bad, for the nation in the past.

"I think the majority of Indonesians would have no problem
with the proposal to pardon Soeharto after an appropriate process
like the truth and reconciliation commission," he said.