---------------------------------------------------------- FREE for JOIN Indonesia Daily News Online via EMAIL: go to: http://www.indo-news.com/subscribe.html - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - Dengan mengClick banner sponsor anda menyumbang Rp. 1000,- untuk HomePage IndoNews. ---------------------------------------------------------- Feb 2, 1999 The New paper, Singapore FOR the past eight months, he has kept to himself like a lion in his lair. Hardly any visitors. No chats with the press. And no obvious pulling of political strings. Now suddenly, Mr Suharto's name is on some Indonesian VIPs' lips. Last week, he made his first public appearance in months. Over the past month, politicians of all hues have been running to him for consultation. And recently, even the army chief suggested that only Mr Suharto could put an end to the violence and uncertainty sweeping Indonesia. Don't kid yourself. Mr Suharto, who ruled Indonesian politics for 32 years, is back again and kicking. The signs are everywhere. Last Tuesday, Mr Abdurrahman Wahid, leader of the Nahdlatul Ulama party - Indonesia's largest Islamic party with a reported following of 30 million - called on Mr Suharto. The fact that such a powerful leader was meeting Mr Suharto, with elections around the corner, was significant enough. Even more surprising was the other man at the meeting, seated beside Mr Suharto. He was Mr Yorris Raweyai, the "tough man" of Indonesian politics and chairman of Pemuda Pancasila, a youth group linked to the ruling Golkar party. His followers, some with mafia-like connections, have been blamed by army chief General Wiranto for the recent riots in Indonesia. When such people are seen around Mr Suharto, it shows his clout. "The message he is sending is "Don't mess with my family's safety,' " says Dr Hamawan Sulistyo, 41, the executive director of the Research Institute for Democracy and Peace, an Indonesian think tank. Mr Suharto's family is under investigation in a whole list of questionable deals. Then just a week ago, observers said Mr Suharto had sounded another warning. When he went to Solo to pray at his wife's grave, he was surrounded by Abri personnel, former ministers and men of the Pemuda Pancasila. Said Dr Hamawan: "He is telling people that not only does he have Abri's protection, but he also has the protection of hoodlums." Last week, Dr Amien Rais, who is expected to be a front-runner for the President's post after the coming election, dropped a small bombshell in Singapore. He said that such was Mr Suharto's clout that even a top reformasi leader, who had battled the former president, wanted to "compromise" with him. As if that was not enough, Mr Abdurrahman Wahid said publicly that General Wiranto wanted Mr Suharto's help in quelling the unrest in Indonesia. "I conveyed Wiranto's hopes to (Mr Suharto) that he would now be ready to use his influence to stop his terrifying followers making chaos," he was quoted as saying. Conclusion: The retired president still calls the shots in Indonesia. Push him into a corner, and he'll fight back. It's not all shadow play and threats. Dr Amien Rais says that Mr Suharto's followers can use their wealth to influence political developments. He alleged that two branches of his own National Mandate Party were "infiltrated", presumably by Mr Suharto's followers. Some called it "the hand of Suharto at work". Mr Meidi Atama, deputy editor of The Jakarta Post, says that this hand has also been blamed for the split in Golkar, Indonesia's ruling party. In December, several former cabinet ministers who served under Mr Suharto, including, former vice-president General Try Sutrisno broke away from Golkar to form the Justice and Unity Party. This party is supposed to have Mr Suharto's blessings. So whether it's clout or cash, politics or powerplay, it looks like you'll be hearing more of the man Indonesians call Bapak. King Maker in the making NO, he doesn't want to be President again. But Mr Suharto may still want to be Indonesia's most powerful man. His biggest plus: There are so many people fighting for power in Indonesia and no clear leader. Many of them will be grateful for his support - and fall in line with his demands. "He wants to be holding power indirectly. He is playing the game, knowing that Indonesia does not have very strong leadership at this moment," Dr Hamawan Sulistyo, executive director of the Research Institute for Democracy and Peace, an Indonesian think tank, told The New Paper. Mr Suharto apparently has just one motive behind wanting to be a King Maker. He wants to ensure his family's safety and financial security, Dr Hamawan said. And people who owe their wealth and power to him are now on his To-See list. Dr Hamawan said: "He is going to put as many people as possible back in power. Some of them could be the ones who split with Golkar. At least these people are not against him and are not seen as openly supporting him." Added Mr Meidi Atama, deputy editor of The Jakarta Post: "You don't get a 32-year despot out of the picture so easily. I am sure he has quite a few followers left. But how potent is this force, no one knows." Still, it is a force with long arms and deep pockets. HE HAS NEVER REALLY BEEN AWAY Dr Hamawan said: "When Amien Rais said that his party has been infiltrated, probably in Solo, it means that someone has given them money, and told them not to disturb Suharto. "So you see, in terms of the style, the system, the connections, Suharto is back. In fact, he has never really been away. "Almost everyone in this country, in any high position, is not free from his influence." But can the Indonesian people see this wayang kulit being played out? And will he succeed? "Of course they can! He is the one with all the money and connections, and it is very difficult to stop him. "But they must remember that this new party formed from the Golkar split is a tiger with no teeth. It consists of former army men, generals who were powerful during their time. "But they've been in the military for 30 to 40 years, and have no support from the civilians. They have no clout, even if they are funded by Suharto. "People are too suspicious of them," Dr Hamawan said. And if they managed to gain power, or even the Presidency, it only means that Mr Suharto is less likely to be harmed by the justice-seeking mob. Another factor in Mr Suharto's favour is the current, unstable environment. Said Mr Atmadji Sumarkidjo, managing editor of the evening daily Suara Pembaruan: "Some people are looking back at the Suharto reign as the good old days, when things were stable. "But look, he knows he is old already... so he's not thinking of himself. He is thinking of his family." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 5 Feb 1999 jam 03:20:15 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
