http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,19111186^661,00.html
Backflip - Suharto charges stay By Rob Taylor in Jakarta 12may06 IN a surprise turnaround, Indonesia's president has abandoned plans to drop corruption charges against ousted dictator Suharto, saying it could cause public outrage and spark demonstrations. "The waves of opposing and supporting voices are getting higher and this could lead to conflict," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said. "I have chosen to shelve this problem ... until the right time." It was a rapid reversal for Mr Yudhoyono's government, which in recent weeks has been laying the ground for embezzlement charges against Suharto to be dropped with public calls for a full pardon. Since he was elected in 2004, Mr Yudhoyono has tried to portray an image of being a tough decision maker. But critics say the president in reality has a record of wobbling in face of public opinion, particularly on corruption issues. Yesterday, Mr Yudhoyono's point man for the Suharto investigation, State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra, said the Government would drop charges against the ailing 84-year-old and take steps to "rehabilitate" his "good name". As well, Indonesia's Attorney-General Office was reportedly planning to revoke a travel ban against Suharto so the former strongman, who is in hospital recovering from colon surgery, could get medical treatment abroad. Mr Yudhoyono refused to take questions on what prompted his decision. While Suharto has been front-page news, there have been no large demonstrations or protests of the kind which led to his1998 removal after 32 years of iron-fisted rule, which included a purge of political opponents which left as many as one million dead. Prosecutors allege Suharto amassed an estimated $US30 billion ($38.8 billion) fortune in power, including $US600 million stolen from state coffers. But legal efforts to recover at least some of the family's looted billions have been stalled since 2000, when Suharto apparently suffered several small strokes. The once-feared dictator still wields considerable influence among Indonesia's business and military elite, many of whom made fortunes thanks to his patronage. Mr Yudhoyono was himself a top general in the regime and was chief of staff of the Jakarta military command in 1996 when troops ransacked the headquarters of the then-opposition party headed by Megawati Sukarnoputri, killing several people. Since his removal, Suharto has kept a low-profile at his home in an upmarket central Jakarta suburb, emerging only occasionally to greet old cronies such as former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohammad and Singapore elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew. At those times he has looked healthy, leading critics to allege his frequent illnesses are faked and demand the resumption of the stalled legal effort against him. However, one of Suharto's doctors said yesterday that the former president had surgery for the second time in a week after suffering a relapse. Suharto was vomiting and suffering breathing problems after his first operation on Sunday for intestinal problems, the doctor said. "The surgery was decided by the team of doctors at 7 pm," Hermansur, a member of Suharto's medical team, said at Pertamina hospital. Mr Mahendra, a former Suharto speechwriter, said yesterday his former boss had asked him to "convey his gratitude" to Mr Yudhoyono for dropping charges. Benjamin Mangkoedilaga, a former head of Indonesia's Human Rights Commission and chief of the Truth and Friendship Commission with East Timor, said Mr Yudhoyono would have taken notice of public reaction to Suharto's recent appearance with Mr Mahathir. "People thought if he looked so well, then what's happening with the legal process," he told told AAP. "A policy to pardon Suharto would have caused a reaction from those who were victimised (under his rule). "How could SBY forgive all the sins of the former regime." A decision to pardon Suharto would have placed a question mark against Mr Yudhoyono's promise to tackle entrenched corruption in Indonesia, which is regularly listed as one of the world's most graft-affected countries. Mr Mangkoedilaga said he supported a call by Indonesia's Parliament for the case to be dropped in return for an apology by Suharto and payment of sizeable reparations from his fortune "to be utilised for the national interest". [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Protect your PC from spy ware with award winning anti spy technology. 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