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Victims of Indonesia's Suharto want justice
As Indonesia's former president Suharto lies critically ill in a Jakarta hospital, many of his victims regret that the former general has not been charged with crimes.
- Agencies
- Published: 08:41 January 19, 2008
Jakarta: As Indonesia's former president Suharto lies critically ill in a Jakarta hospital, many of his victims regret that the former general has not been charged with crimes.
"Suharto took so many lives when he rose to power and he did the same when he stepped down," said Heri Akhmadi, a former student activist jailed during protests in 1978.
Suharto, now 86, came to power after he crushed a coup in 1965. He ruled Indonesia for 32 years, with his army killing student activists or sending them to jail or labour camps.
"Putting him (Suharto) on trial is about investing in this country's future, more than just doing justice, and has nothing to do with revenge," said Budiman Sudjatmiko.
Sudjatmiko was one of several students rounded up in 1996 and put on trial on the grounds he had masterminded a riot in Jakarta in 1996.
"For those who fought for it and went to prison for it, democracy is all the more sweet and wonderful," Sudjatmiko said.
Former student activist Nezar Patria, now a journalist, said he was kidnapped by an anti-terror unit in 1988 and was tortured for three days and then jailed for three months.
Months after his release, Nezar would break out in a sweat just hearing a walky-talky like he ones he heard during his kidnapping.
As for Suharto, "he may be honoured, but he is also a coward who doesn't want to admit his wrongdoing," Nezar said.
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