Jakarta – Politicians are stepping up their attempts to spare former president Soeharto from sitting trial for corruption and human rights crime allegations dating back to his 32 years in power.
The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), known for an anti-corruption campaign that has helped it join the ranks of the country's major political players, announced Monday that it was officially requesting Indonesia forgive the former dictator for the sake of national reconciliation.
"For the PKS the substance of the initiative is reconciliation that will free this nation from past burdens which otherwise will disrupt its passage to a better future," Mahfudz Siddik, chairman of the party's faction at the House Representatives, told a press conference. The party says that Soeharto, regardless of his mistakes, is one of the country's great leaders.
The formal request will be sent to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nurwahid, House Speaker Agung Laksono, Regional Representatives Council Speaker Ginanjar Kartasasmita, Chief Justice Bagir Manan, Constitutional Court President Jimly Asshidiqie and leaders of factions at the House.
The move follows a recommendation from the PKS board of patrons that appealed to the President to pardon Soeharto, who has been in a critical condition at Pertamina Hospital for almost three weeks.
The PKS followed in the footsteps of the Golkar Party, in which Soeharto was once a powerful figure, which has demanded suspension of all legal processes against the 86-year-old.
Unlike Golkar, however, the PKS insists that the court settlement of Soeharto's cases continue.
Soeharto's family recently asked for an out-of-court settlement of a civil lawsuit filed by the government against foundations set up by the former president. The government is demanding Rp 4 trillion in compensation for state money that was sent to the foundations.
President Yudhoyono has called for the nation to avoid debating legal affairs related to Soeharto now that the retired five-star Army general is in hospital. Soeharto has survived two close brushes with death since he was rushed to the hospital on Jan. 4.
The government has also refused to respond to calls for mercy for Soeharto as there has been no court verdict declaring him guilty. The attorney general has dropped corruption charges leveled at Soeharto, citing his inability to stand trial.
Mahfudz said an out-of-court settlement would only lead to back-room deals. "We do not take a priori judgment, but everybody knows we are preparing for general elections in 2009," he said.
Human rights activists and victims of violence during Soeharto's rule, however, are pushing for a trial. They said Monday that past crimes perpetrated by the Soeharto administration were "unforgivable".
"Let's pray for Pak Harto's recovery, so that he can stand trial," labor activist Mukhtar Pakpahan, who once was detained for insulting the president during the New Order regime, told a media conference held just 100 meters from Pertamina Hospital.
The health of Soeharto has suffered a slight setback, with his doctors saying Monday that the 86-year-old former dictator's digestive system is not functioning properly. Soeharto rallied at the end of last week, but remains in a critical condition.
The head of Soeharto's team of doctors, Mardjo Soebiandono, told journalists that digestive problems emerged Sunday. "(Soeharto's) general condition is showing regression again... yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, he developed problems with his digestive system," Mardjo was quoted by AFP.