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)