Son back Soeharto denial of foreign riches

Son back Soeharto denial of foreign riches

JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Bambang Trihatmodjo has come to the
defense of his father, challenging critics of former president
Soeharto to support their allegations of wrongdoings with hard
evidence.

"My father has publicly said that he does not have accounts or
savings abroad. Yet people continue to call for an investigation
into his wealth and for his prosecution," Bambang told reporters
before attending a meeting of the Armed Forces Big Family (KBA)
at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah recreational park in East Jakarta
on Friday.

"They should have backed up their allegations with evidence
before condemning and humiliating my father," said Soeharto's
second son.

Soeharto appeared on the privately owned Televisi Pendidikan
Indonesia (TPI) last Sunday to deny allegations that he had a
personal fortune of US$100 billion overseas and Rp 200 trillion
($18 billion) at home.

Bambang said a campaign to target Soeharto's family could be
the only reason for the persistent sniping over his father's
alleged wealth.

"If people talk about the corrupt, collusive and nepotistic
practices of my father's administration in the past, why don't
they also attack similar practices found in the ruling
administration of today?" he asked.

"It seems to me that the Cendana family is being put up as
their target," he added.

Asked about President B.J. Habibie's recent decision to cancel
government business contracts with Soeharto's children, Bambang
said it would not be a problem for them.

"It's not a problem. No problem at all," he said.

The government has canceled a long-term toll road construction
contract with Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, Soeharto's eldest
daughter, an insurance management contract between Bambang and
several of the country's airlines, and a contract for the import
and export of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) with Hutomo Mandala
Putra, Bambang's younger brother.

Another member of Soeharto's family who came to the former
president's defense on Friday was his half-brother Probosutedjo,
who also challenged critics to come up with hard evidence.

Meanwhile, Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said on
Friday that the government would not provide the former president
with any special legal protection.

"The government will let the public continue to condemn Pak
Harto because it is part of the political responsibility which he
must bear for his 32-year presidency," Akbar, who is also
chairman of Golkar, told reporters after opening a meeting of
Golkar's Yogyakarta chapter.

"It's the era of democracy. People are now free to express
their opinions," he said. "The government, through ABRI (the
Armed Forces), will only provide the former president with
physical protection."

If Soeharto needs legal protection, he said, he could seek it
through his lawyers and attempt to sue his critics.

Johannes Yacob, a lawyer representing Soeharto, called on the
government and the National Commission on Human Rights to provide
the former president with protection against slanderous and
humiliating remarks on Wednesday.

Yacob, hired by Soeharto after his resignation May, said that
defamatory remarks against the former president could prejudice
public opinion and impinge on Soeharto's legal rights. (imn/23)