Susilo: Govt to pay special attention to Soeharto's trial
JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Monday that the government would pay special attention to the trial of former president Soeharto on corruption charges to prevent any negative consequences at the venue.
"We're going to give special attention to the trial but we will not interfere with the process as that is the full responsibility of the judicial authorities," he told journalists.
"We (the government) will only prevent possible negative impacts of the trial. I appeal to the public to exercise self- restraint and to avoid doing anything that could trigger violence over the trial," he said.
Susilo underlined that the government was fully aware of the ongoing debate over the trial as some have questioned Soeharto's ability to attend the hearings due to his current state of health.
"The public should leave this up to the team of doctors, the lawyers and the other parties involved.
"The public, on the other hand, should maintain peace and order and let the law run its course," he said.
"Whatever happens during the trial, it should not trigger violent physical clashes among the people," he added.
Separately, no significant developments were reported on Monday from the Ministry of Agriculture complex in Ragunan, South Jakarta, which is slated to be the venue of Soeharto's trial. No special security measures are being put in place prior to the preliminary hearing on Thursday.
Officials of the South Jakarta District Court were scheduled to visit the complex at 2 p.m. to prepare the ministry's auditorium as a courtroom. But the team failed to appear until 3:30 p.m.
"It's no longer part of my responsibilities. I don't know anything about the court's preparation. We are only providing the auditorium for the trial," the ministry's spokesman Darman Bachri Hasibuan told The Jakarta Post at his office.
"As I have told you before, the court will take care of the trial and the South Jakarta Police are responsible for security," he said.
Several police officers from the South Jakarta precinct and the Pasar Minggu subprecinct attended a meeting on the seventh floor of the main building.
"We're here to train the ministry's satpam (security guards) but it's got nothing to do with Thursday's trial," Pasar Minggu police chief Supt. Soegeng told reporters at the ministry.
Soegeng and the other officers refused to give any information on the trial or even the so-called training for the security guards.
By contrast, the ministry's security guards admitted that the meeting concerned the security preparations for Thursday's hearing.
Darman said that the ministry only hoped that the trial would not obstruct its employees from entering the complex.
"I hope we (employees) can work as usual notwithstanding the fact that the auditorium is connected to the main building by a corridor," he said.
"But, we can simply close the corridor to ensure our security," he added.
The compound consists of six blocks and a mosque. The auditorium is directly connected to the nine-story main building, where the minister has his office. The main building also has a helipad on its roof.
"The helipad was planned at the beginning of construction, but has never been used. This may be the first time," said a ministry employee, while requesting anonymity.
Another employee warned that all the excitement over the use of the ministry's auditorium was designed solely for the purpose of diverting the people's attention.
"Do you remember what happened with Soeharto's last questioning which initially scheduled to take place at the Attorney General office? They suddenly moved it to the City Prosecutor's Office in Kuningan," he told reporters.
The ministry's employees remained undecided about whether they would come to the office on Thursday or not.
"I have no other choice but to come in because I'm a satpam but many of my friends plan to take the day off," security guard Khaelani told reporters. (dja/nvn)