Rival Says Indonesia Leader Like Suharto

President B. J. Habibie was accused by a prominent opposition figure Tuesday of becoming no better than the authoritarian strongman he replaced as this nation’s leader.

Amien Rais, leader of the New National Mandate Party and former chairman of the second-largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, accused Habibie of following the path of former President Suharto, Habibie’s onetime mentor, who was forced to resign in May amid prolonged riots and protests.

“Habibie’s government has started to copy the pattern of Suharto’s iron fist that oppressed the people,” said Rais, a likely presidential candidate.

Ignoring student calls for his resignation following violent protests last week, Habibie went to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit Tuesday and today in Malaysia. It was his first trip abroad since taking power.

At least 16 people, including eight students, were killed in last week’s violence--the worst since unrest ended Suharto’s 32-year rule.

Worried about Indonesia’s volatility, Habibie said Tuesday that he would commute to the two-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian capital is a two-hour flight from Jakarta.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund warned that Indonesia’s chances of recovering from its worst economic crisis in 30 years will be hurt if civil unrest such as the protests last week doesn’t end.