Indonesians at Rally Demand Suharto Trial

Riot police blocked roads leading to ex-President Suharto’s house Wednesday as hundreds of protesters rallied in central Jakarta, calling for the former dictator to be prosecuted for corruption.

The students, carrying banners reading “Arrest Suharto” and “Confiscate Suharto’s wealth,” denounced the government as taking too long to investigate the former dictator’s alleged involvement in a number of corruption scandals.

In the past week, there have been several anti-Suharto protests, some leading to violent clashes with police.

Suharto, who has been named a suspect in connection with a corruption scandal involving several charities, has denied any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, Atty. Gen. Marzuki Darusman said that one of Suharto’s top military men, former military chief Gen. Wiranto, may not have to face trial, despite being implicated in the destruction in East Timor last year.

The attorney general said that under Indonesia’s legal system, Wiranto cannot be charged with omission of duties.

A government human rights investigation and a U.N. inquiry found that as military commander, Wiranto bore ultimate responsibility for atrocities committed by Indonesian forces in East Timor after its people voted to secede in a U.N.-sponsored plebiscite. But the probes did not uncover any evidence that Wiranto was personally involved in organizing the violence.

More than 250 bodies have been recovered, and experts have estimated that 70% of the homes and buildings in the territory, which occupies half an island, were destroyed in the rampage by pro-Indonesian militias.