The New York Times

Thursday, April 13, 2000

Indonesia Bans Suharto From Leaving Capital

By Reuters

JAKARTA (Reuters) - The Indonesian government closed in on former autocratic ruler Suharto on Thursday, banning him from leaving the capital and threatening house arrest, a fate he would share with the man he toppled over 30 years ago.

The sickly 78-year-old former president is being investigated for corruption during his iron rule which effectively began in 1965 when he pushed aside founding President Sukarno.

Sukarno died under house arrest in 1970.

``We have taken legal action against the suspect Suharto, that is to ban him from travelling abroad and to place him under city arrest,'' Purnama Munthe, a member of the attorney-general's team investigating Suharto, told reporters.

``If Suharto violates the city arrest, he would be put under house arrest,'' he said, adding that the city arrest is valid for 22 days.

The ban follows reports that Suharto's family planned to take him to Los Angeles.

Later, around 1,000 students demonstrated near Suharto's house chanting slogans and calling for him to face trial.

The protesters threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at security forces near Suharto's house in the posh central Jakarta suburb of Menteng.

The clash is the latest of a series of protests against the former leader.

A BITTER END

Possible house arrest would be a bitter end for Suharto who took great pains during his 32-year rule to avoid following in the footsteps of the charismatic Sukarno.

During his rule, he even refused to sleep in the presidential palace used by Sukarno, except for one night each year before the independence day celebrations.

Sukarno was ousted after being linked to an alleged communist-backed coup.

Suharto's turn came in May 1998 when he was forced from office in the face of mounting social turmoil and economic crisis.

Suharto has always denied dipping into the country's coffers, but during his long rule Indonesia became synonymous with corruption.

CHARGES INVOLVE CHARITIES

The government is looking into allegations of corruption at cash-rich charities once controlled by the despotic ruler of the world's fourth most populous country.

Accusations of corruption have also been leveled at his children and close associates, all of whom amassed considerable wealth during his rule.

Munthe said the ban was imposed in order to ``protect'' Suharto, whose frail health has hampered the more than year-long corruption probe.

Suharto's lawyers have argued that he is too ill to face questioning.

He suffered a stroke last year and has had to be hospitalized twice. He reportedly has trouble speaking for any length of time. Prosecutors said they planned to continue questioning of Suharto, but gave no time frame.

READY TO RAID SUHARTO HOME

Munthe said the government was prepared to raid Suharto's home to collect evidence if necessary.

``If necessary other legal action such as a raid and confiscation of evidence will be taken,'' Munthe said.

Despite the tough talk, many analysts doubt that the government of President Abdurrahman Wahid would jail Suharto if he were found guilty.

But they say it might try to put one or more of his children behind bars. One of his sons is already facing criminal proceedings.

With corruption on such a massive scale, government ministers concede that it would be impossible to put on trial everyone tarnished by graft allegations.

The government has been looking at establishing some sort of truth and reconciliation commission along the lines of the one set up in South Africa at the end of apartheid.