Soeharto's last words
Former president Soeharto was healthy enough to deliver messages to president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono through the Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi.
What message? "He hopes this administration would do better," said Sudi after paid a visit to the former 'boss' at Pertamina hospital, Detik.com reported.
Sudi spoke with Soeharto for almost 30 minutes. No further details of the conversation. But 30 minutes talk confirmed that Soeharto is not mentally sick or had lost his memory on things to stand a trial. Early last week Soeharto was seen fresh when he hosted former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Muhammad at his residence. Mahathir testified Soeharto's good health despite difficulties in exchange words.
"But as a human being, I feel sorry for his physical condition," Sudi said. It was president SBY who asked Sudi to check out the medical services given to Soeharto.
Was the message the last one? I have no idea. No clear sign, at least from the media reports, that Soeharto is dying. But the doctors claimed the former authoritarian ruler's stomach was deteriorating for bleeding.
That's why Sudi declined to comment on a possibility to reopen the investigation on Soeharto. Politicians reacted differently, as usual. Golkar Party legislator Theo Sambuaga asked Attorney General's Office to drop the case and let Soeharto 'rest in peace'.
Former Assembly Speaker Amin Rais said he would never believe this administration could prosecute Soeharto. Amien said AGO's plan to resume Soeharto prosecution is a big joke and only want to give good impression to public. Amien might be right this time. While SBY never explicitly asked AGO to drop or move on with the charges, SBY clearly stated last year that he wanted to forget the past and only prosecute recent corruption cases.
His predecessors, Abdurrahman Wahid managed to prosecute Soeharto's golf buddy Mohammad 'Bob' Hasan and beloved son Tommy, while step-brother Probosutedjo was just convicted in a corruption case few months ago. But Soeharto got precious gift last year when the Supreme Court cut the prison terms for Tommy by five years.
The two previous administrations, wherein Amien was the Assembly Speaker with a lot of power in his hands to supervise government, also failed to make Soeharto stand trial for poor health reasons. Everybody love to play Soeharto Prosecution Card when they want to boost popularity. Remember how Megawati Soekarnoputri play the game during the runoff of the 2004 election? Or when political pressures mounts on Wahid? Just like this time around when so much pressure on this administration and their popularity dropped to well below 40%.
Some had proposed for so long a fair trial for Soeharto. Say that court's verdict would be guilty. Just stay behind the bars for one or two days, the president could grant an amnesty for humanitarian reason (85-year old). Just want to uphold the law as SBY said all the time during his campaign.
Anyway...
I just wonder how thankful SBY, one of few generals who pushed internal reforms in the military, with Soeharto's 'friendly' words at the time he lost many friends in the last few months. For sure Soeharto didn't say like Julius Caesar's, Et Tu Brute?
What message? "He hopes this administration would do better," said Sudi after paid a visit to the former 'boss' at Pertamina hospital, Detik.com reported.
Sudi spoke with Soeharto for almost 30 minutes. No further details of the conversation. But 30 minutes talk confirmed that Soeharto is not mentally sick or had lost his memory on things to stand a trial. Early last week Soeharto was seen fresh when he hosted former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Muhammad at his residence. Mahathir testified Soeharto's good health despite difficulties in exchange words.
"But as a human being, I feel sorry for his physical condition," Sudi said. It was president SBY who asked Sudi to check out the medical services given to Soeharto.
Was the message the last one? I have no idea. No clear sign, at least from the media reports, that Soeharto is dying. But the doctors claimed the former authoritarian ruler's stomach was deteriorating for bleeding.
That's why Sudi declined to comment on a possibility to reopen the investigation on Soeharto. Politicians reacted differently, as usual. Golkar Party legislator Theo Sambuaga asked Attorney General's Office to drop the case and let Soeharto 'rest in peace'.
Former Assembly Speaker Amin Rais said he would never believe this administration could prosecute Soeharto. Amien said AGO's plan to resume Soeharto prosecution is a big joke and only want to give good impression to public. Amien might be right this time. While SBY never explicitly asked AGO to drop or move on with the charges, SBY clearly stated last year that he wanted to forget the past and only prosecute recent corruption cases.
His predecessors, Abdurrahman Wahid managed to prosecute Soeharto's golf buddy Mohammad 'Bob' Hasan and beloved son Tommy, while step-brother Probosutedjo was just convicted in a corruption case few months ago. But Soeharto got precious gift last year when the Supreme Court cut the prison terms for Tommy by five years.
The two previous administrations, wherein Amien was the Assembly Speaker with a lot of power in his hands to supervise government, also failed to make Soeharto stand trial for poor health reasons. Everybody love to play Soeharto Prosecution Card when they want to boost popularity. Remember how Megawati Soekarnoputri play the game during the runoff of the 2004 election? Or when political pressures mounts on Wahid? Just like this time around when so much pressure on this administration and their popularity dropped to well below 40%.
Some had proposed for so long a fair trial for Soeharto. Say that court's verdict would be guilty. Just stay behind the bars for one or two days, the president could grant an amnesty for humanitarian reason (85-year old). Just want to uphold the law as SBY said all the time during his campaign.
Anyway...
I just wonder how thankful SBY, one of few generals who pushed internal reforms in the military, with Soeharto's 'friendly' words at the time he lost many friends in the last few months. For sure Soeharto didn't say like Julius Caesar's, Et Tu Brute?
Labels: Pertamina, President SBY, SOEHARTO Inc
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1 Comments:
Thank you for your Blog, Yosef.
If Indonesia is serious about renewing credibility in this world, it must make the first move. Don't wait to be pushed by the West (USA) as it usually does on major issues. Soeharto is a liability and he must be treated exactly as Hitler would have been had the latter survived World War 2. He must go to trial in a third country and be judged by non-Indonesians. He would probably be executed and for the crimes he committed, this is probably the most humane treatment he can expect After that, all his family could be investigated in Indonesia for corrupt practices, drugs and other offences - offences for which foreigners and poor people sometimes receive a death penalty. It is high time the Soeharto clan was removed from this planet. They have done evil from 1965 to the present day.
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