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.