-Caveat Lector- from alt.politics.org.cia ----- As always, Caveat Lector. Om K ----- <A HREF="aol://5863:126/alt.politics.org.cia:40521">Millionaire Suharto: I'm Just a Good Saver</A> ----- Subject: Millionaire Suharto: I'm Just a Good Saver From: "Charles R. Mauro" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Fri, Dec 4, 1998 3:14 PM Message-id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Millionaire Suharto: I'm Just a Good Saver 8.47 a.m. ET (1347 GMT) December 4, 1998 JAKARTA Former Indonesian President Suharto, under investigation over claims he corruptly built up a private fortune, defended his wealth on Friday and portrayed himself as a money-wise saver and landlord. Suharto has told the Dharmais magazine, run by a charity he used to own, that $3 million found in his local bank accounts was savings from his presidential salary and rent from two houses. The houses, bought before he became president, were leased to foreigners who paid the rent in U.S. dollars, he said in the article, a copy of which was released by the magazine ahead of publication. "That money I collected and deposited in the banks, and every month it increased until it reached this amount of about 22 billion rupiah ($3 billion)," he was quoted as saying. Suharto's presidential salary is not known, but cabinet ministers currently earn four million rupiah a month $530. Some analysts estimate Suharto and his family amassed a fortune worth $40 billion during his autocratic 32-year reign that ended in disgrace in May amid an economic meltdown and civil chaos that sprang out of pro-democracy demonstrations. They say much of the money has been parked overseas. Pressed by daily protests demanding Suharto be tried for corruption and human rights abuses, his hand-picked successor, President B.J. Habibie, on Thursday ordered the attorney-general to speed up his investigation of Suharto's wealth. Government investigators disclosed last month they had found about 22 billion rupiah in Suharto's local accounts, but said they had so far found nothing overseas. Suharto last week gave the government seven charities he owned including the Dharmais charity, worth a total $500 million. The forestry department says the 77-year-old former general, his family and friends own or control at least nine million hectares (22.5 million acres) of rainforest almost the size of the main island of Java. Suharto said he has disclosed all his wealth to Attorney-General Andi Ghalib and denied stashing money abroad. He told the magazine that he had given Ghalib a legally binding letter giving the government permission to confiscate any money it found overseas. Suharto said he was not afraid of any investigation, adding that even a former president could not be above the law. "I will not challenge (any investigation) because I'm aware that no citizen of indonesia can be above the law," he said. "But it must be known that this country is a country of law. Every citizen is also entitled to the protection of the law." [EMAIL PROTECTED] © 1998, News America Digital Publishing, Inc. d/b/a Fox News Online. All rights reserved. Fox News is a registered trademark of 20th Century Fox Film Corp. © Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, Omnia Bona Bonis, All My Relations. Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End Kris DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
