The emperor is sick

The strongman former president Soeharto has been often likened to an emperor with absolute power. Although he has been reported a number of times as being very sick and was rushed recently to the hospital for an appendectomy, he is a free man.

He is no longer confined to his bed, to his house, to his city, or to the country for that matter. His case before the court has almost been forgotten. He might even try putting if only his loyal friend (Bob Hasan) would lend him a golf club.

He might also be congratulated that his famous son, Tommy, has not been discovered in his hiding place. Perhaps the emperor knows where the fugitive is now.

Interestingly, Soeharto's children are gradually coming to center stage, one by one. There is no need to mention their names. But, like their father, they have to prove that they are innocent in whatever shady dealings at the detriment of the state. Somehow, I have a hunch they will escape the dragnet of justice.

Pretending to be sick is a ploy that may only be used by an important player in history, like masseur Suwondo, who suddenly had to undergo heart surgery. Of course, he will be too sick, with a doctor's note, to sit in his chair before the court.

The former absolute ruler should also be happy that the cries to find his allegedly illegally accumulated wealth stashed in foreign banks have practically died down. The public's attention depends to a great extent on how the media react to the latest issue, which is now white book versus memorandum.

Or it may be about the proposal by the Supreme Advisory Council that President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid be made temporarily nonactive and that Megawati become the de facto president of the country, while Gus Dur is on sick leave. But the cleric President has sneered at the idea.

What is evident now is that the influence of the New Order (Soeharto's era) is more tangible than ever, given that some people are connecting President Abdurrahman Wahid with the New Order, as he once served as a member of the People's Consultative Assembly, appointed by the Soeharto administration.

Does Soeharto still think of the fate of the people who have fled Sampit (Central Kalimantan) as a result of ethnic violence, or from rising flood waters or from earthquakes. Why should he? Even Gus Dur has left the country.

Even the national currency has withstood the pressure to stay below Rp 10,000 against the US dollar. Soeharto has nothing to worry about. His children are smart enough to have some dollars hidden away somewhere, but certainly not in the bunkers under Jl. Cendana.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta