Louise Williams – Protected by a cordon of riot troops, the man who ruled Indonesia with absolute authority for more than three decades, former President Soeharto, finally faced the humiliation of interrogation today over allegations of corruption and nepotism.
After months of demonstrations by angry students calling for justice, Mr Soeharto was summonsed to appear before the Attorney-General this morning to answer questions over the failed national car project that cost the country $A2.5billion, a slew of charities and foundations used to finance the expansion of his cronies' businesses, and land that farmers claim was illegally snatched.
"No one is above the law, I have given them all the information," said a noticeably thinner and paler Soeharto, after more than four hours of questioning.
The session was switched overnight from the Attorney-General's south Jakarta office to another location in the city centre, to avoid large student protests outside. Ten truckloads of riot troops sealed the building and another 10 military trucks closed off surrounding streets, causing massive morning traffic jams in central Jakarta.
"I came to comply with the summons. I have served my obligation as a citizen, but it is also every citizen's right to enjoy the protection of the law," Mr Soeharto said.
The session reflects mounting pressure on the Habibie Government to seek accountability for the abuses of power during Mr Soeharto's rule, and to investigate a family fortune worth up to $A64.8billion dollars at the height of Indonesia's economic boom. Now, after more than a year of deep recession, analysts say the Soeharto clan retains assets worth between $A16 and $A29 billion, many of which were amassed by abusing the former President's absolute political power.
However, critics remain doubtful that Mr Soeharto will ever be jailed or face punishment because the Habibie Government is made up of scores of his former political allies. Despite his family's wealth, many Indonesians would be reluctant to see the ageing leader end his days in jail because of decades of economic growth during his rule and cultural barriers to the criticism of senior public figures.
But similar sentiments do not extend to his rich children, who are perceived as having built their business empires through privilege. Yesterday, the Attorney-General, General Andi Muhammad Ghalib, said the national car project that handed Mr Soeharto's son, Mr Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, exclusive tax and tariff concessions had been established "solely to profit the Soeharto family".
General Ghalib, formerly a close Soeharto ally, said the national car program has cost Indonesia $A2.5billion. Besides the tax breaks, Tommy was also given a "soft loan" worth hundreds of millions of dollars by a consortium which included "state banks".
Of the 43 questions put to Mr Soeharto in this morning's session, 18 were about the car program and 16 were about a number of charitable foundations controlled by the former President.
During his rule, Government employees faced compulsory salary deductions to fund various charities, whose accounts were not open to public scrutiny. The charities were also used to funnel substantial political donations from business people seeking access to contracts.
Mr Soeharto recently returned about $A810 million of funds controlled by the charities to the Government, but some local financial analysts say the amount should have been closer to$A6.5billion.
The Attorney-General also publicly said that the charities were used to provide funding for the expansion of the businesses of his family and friends, and not only for their stated charitable purpose.