Soeharto's rights guaranteed, even if conficted: Baharuddin

Soeharto's rights guaranteed, even if conficted: Baharuddin

JAKARTA (JP): Former secretary general of the National
Commission on Human Rights, Baharuddin Lopa, said Tuesday that
the rights of former president Soeharto were guaranteed during
investigations into alleged corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Antara reported that during a dialog on law in Jambi, Soeharto
was still entitled to protection of his rights even though the
investigations could prove him guilty.

"The National Commission on Human Rights would guarantee the
protection of civil rights for Soeharto if he is proven guilty in
investigations by the Attorney General or by a court ruling.

In this reform era, Baharuddin said Indonesians are
increasingly upholding human rights and democracy, the
consequence being that everybody was entitled to legal
protection.

Following the questioning of Soeharto last Wednesday, the
Attorney General's Office said investigations had yet to start.

"I see that the questioning by the Attorney General's Office
is already heading towards investigation," Baharuddin said.

In Jakarta, spokesman for the Attorney General's office Barman
Zahir said former minister of finance Mar'ie Muhammad and former
vice secretary to the cabinet Bambang Kesowo would be questioned
this week.

Baharuddin voiced disagreement with demands of some students
that Soeharto be brought to a "people's trial." "It would make
things even worse, and such an institution violates the law," he
said. He urged that the Attorney General's Office immediately
back up their investigation with evidence related to charges of
corruption, collusion and nepotism conducted by Soeharto, and
other law violating measures during his 32 years in power.

If such evidence was found, he said, Soeharto would be brought
to trial in line with public demand.

He also said criticism of Soeharto was natural given the
"buried grievances" of the public during the former president's
32 years in power, "but he also should be respected, given his
contributions, and his old age," Baharuddin said.

The agency also reported from Denpasar, Bali, that hundreds of
students of Denpasar's Pendidikan Nasional (National Education)
University rallied in front of the Provincial Prosecutor's
Office. "We question the attorney general's steps so far which
have lacked transparency in the investigation of Soeharto,"
spokesman I.B. Asta Wibawa told the deputy head of the Provincial
Prosecutor's Office Ngurah Arya Asmara.

They also demanded a thorough investigation into the Semanggi
tragedy. Student clashes of Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 in Jakarta
claimed 16 lives including those of nine students.

They also appealed to the authorities to ensure that riots
such as the one in Buleleng which killed three people on Friday
would be the last. Before the rally students first prayed
together for an end to violence in the country. (anr)