DATE=2/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA-PRESIDENT (L)
NUMBER=2-259385
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Indonesia's president says he favors pardoning all
top officials of previous governments if found to have
committed illegal acts in office. In an interview with VOA,
President Abdurrahman Wahid also says he suspended his
former armed forces chief from the Cabinet after realizing
the devastating effect his presence in the Cabinet would
have on foreign investment. VOA correspondent Gary Thomas
reports from Jakarta.
TEXT: In a VOA interview, President Wahid said he would
pardon the top officials of past governments for any
offenses. Speaking in his office at the presidential
palace, Mr. Wahid said he would offer amnesty to the former
president, vice-president, and armed forces chief.
// WAHID ACT //
The ex-president, ex-vice-president, and ex-commanders of
the armed forces should be pardoned because it's a
political act. Because when the president does something,
then the constitution says he has to be impeached, not
(tried by) an ordinary court. Because of that, then he has
a pardon, it's a political act. And a political act shall
be pardoned. But the results of their action will be
returned to the public.
// END ACT //
Ex-President Suharto is under investigation for alleged
corruption, while the former armed forces chief, General
Wiranto, has been implicated in alleged human rights abuses
in East Timor.
General Wiranto was suspended from his cabinet position as
security minister last week, less than a day after it was
announced he would stay on pending the attorney general's
investigation.
Mr. Wahid says there was no change between the two
announcements. He says General Wiranto wanted him to hold
off announcing any resignation. But the president says he
later decided to suspend General Wiranto after he found out
what effect his continuing presence in the Cabinet would
have.
// WAHID ACT //
He asked me not to announce his resignation before the
results of the team were announced. And then I phoned
several bodies, several agencies, and several sites in the
country as well as abroad, asking them what is the
immediate situation in the investment equation. And all of
them answered that no investment will be taking place
without General Wiranto's resignation. And we have problem
because he will not resign until the announcement of the
team's result.
// END ACT //
The battle of wills between President Wahid and General
Wiranto had sparked fears of a military coup in Indonesia.
But Mr. Wahid says the military has accepted the civilian
government's authority.
// WAHID ACT //
I just talked to Admiral Widodo, the head of the Indonesian
Armed Forces. I asked him to make somebody replaced by
another general, and he said, OK I will do that. You see,
so I believe that the whole armed forces will follow the
orders of the civilians.
// END ACT //
Mr. Wahid adds, however, that there are forces out to
destabilize him and his government. He declined, however,
to identify them. (signed)
NEB/GPT/GC/FC
21-Feb-2000 06:00 AM EDT (21-Feb-2000 1100 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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