APSN Banner

Megawati committed to justice for Suharto

Source
Agence France Presse - June 29, 1999

Jakarta – Indonesian presidential hopeful Megawati Sukarnoputri intends to go after not just ousted leader Suharto but other officials who have abused their positions, a report said Tuesday.

"Ibu Mega often comments on why the focus is on Suharto alone and [why] only he should be tried," Kwik Kian Gie, a deputy chairman of Megawati's Indonesian Democracy Party-Struggle (PDIP), was quoted by the Kompas daily as saying.

Kwik said "there are other officials who had violated the law" whom Megawati intended also to bring to justice if named president.

Indonesian newspapers have cast doubt on whether Megawati, whose PDIP is leading the count for the June 7 polls, will press on with a trial of Suharto over the alleged fortune he amassed during his 23 years in power.

Megawati, daughter of the country's founding president Sukarno, had previously cited her own family's humiliation for not wanting to hound Suharto if she comes to office. Suharto pushed Sukarno out of power in the mid-1960s and Megawati's father languished under house arrest until his death in 1970.

Megawati's position on East Timor remained unclear, with the former Portuguese territory seized by Indonesia in 1975 due to hold a vote on autonomy or independence.

She has previously rejected proposals embracing an autonomous East Timor within a federal system for Indonesia, arguing in favour of the unitary republic set up under her father.

"Even if the result of the consultation says that East Timor should remain part of Indonesia, that's not all smooth," Kwik was quoted as saying of Megawati's views. "Has any past leader ever asked all other Indonesians whether they want East Timor to be part of Indonesia?" he said.

Country