DATE=9/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SUHARTO (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266593
BYLINE=RON CORBEN
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT=
INTRO: The youngest son of former Indonesian president
Suharto has denied links with this week's bombing at
the Jakarta Stock Exchange, which left 15 people dead.
Ron Corben reports from VOA's South East Asia Bureau
the denial came during two hours of questioning at
police headquarters in Jakarta.
TEXT: Tommy Suharto was summoned to Police
headquarters Saturday after Indonesian President
Abdurrahman Wahid ordered his arrest in connection
with Wednesday's bomb attack at the Jakarta Stock
Exchange. The blast killed 15 people.
Tommy, whose real name is Hutomo Mandala Putra, went
voluntarily to police headquarters, and spent two
hours answering questions from investigators.
As he came out of the police station, he told a crowd
of waiting reporters he was disappointed with
President Wahid. The controversial businessman denied
any involvement in the bombing.
President Wahid's threat to arrest Tommy Suharto
raised the stakes in Indonesia's power struggle
between supporters of reform and groups representing
so-called status-quo elements.
President Suharto, who ruled Indonesia for some three
decades, was forced out of office in 1998 by a popular
uprising and an economy sliding into recession.
Mr Wahid had, in calling for Tommy Suharto's arrest
this week, linked the bombings at the exchange
directly with Suharto supporters. Defense
Minister Mohamad Mahfud made similar charges.
Minister Mahfud accused Suharto cronies of being
behind several bombings in Jakarta over recent months,
although acknowledging he had no proof.
This week's bombing took place on the eve of the
resumption of former President Suharto's trial on
corruption charges. Mr. Suharto, however, did not show
up for the proceedings, saying he was too ill to
attend.
Indonesian police say the explosives used in the stock
exchange bombing and that of the Philippine Embassy in
Jakarta last month appear similar to those used by the
country's special forces. In July, a bomb exploded at
the attorney general's office soon after Tommy Suharto
was interrogated about his father's wealth.
The Suharto family and associates have been accused of
looting billions of dollars from the national treasury
through corrupt business activities, although the
current case is limited to the former president and
seven charitable foundations under his control.
(Signed)
NEB/RC/PFH
16-Sep-2000 10:49 AM EDT (16-Sep-2000 1449 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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