Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Agung Laksono said there was no need to continue the legal process against ailing former President Soeharto for "humanitarian reasons."
Agung made the statement after handing forest tree seeds for reforestation to 13 campuses here on Saturday.
"Since he has repaatedly fallen ill and been hospitalized several times, the legal process (for corruption) against Soeharto should not be continued for humanitarian reasons," Agung said.
Soeharto was in 2000 prosecuted in a multimillion dollar corruption case but based on a recommendation from a presidential team of doctors, the court declared him too ill to stand trial.
After 32 years in power, the former strongman was forced to step down in 1998 in the face of mass protests but many believed his cronies were still exerting an influence to prevent him from being brought to justice.
Anti-corruption groups and other activists continued pressing judicial authorities to try Soeharto for not only massive corruption but also various human rights violations during his decades of iron-fisted rule.
However, Agung said, Soeharto should be respected because of his enormous services to the state and nation.
"Still, we have to respect Pak Harto because he has rendered enormous services to the state and nation," Agung said, adding that he could only pray for Soeharto to get well soon.
Agung said that after arriving back to Jakarta on Saturday evening, he would visit Soeharto at Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta.
The former dictator, who will turn 87 in June this year, was rushed to Pertamina Hospital at 2.15 on Friday afternoon after he had been complaining about feeling weak for five days.
Meanwhile, chairman of the presidential team of doctors Mardjo Soebiandono said in press conference in Jakarta at noon on Saturday that Soeharto remained in critical condition.(*)
Agung made the statement after handing forest tree seeds for reforestation to 13 campuses here on Saturday.
"Since he has repaatedly fallen ill and been hospitalized several times, the legal process (for corruption) against Soeharto should not be continued for humanitarian reasons," Agung said.
Soeharto was in 2000 prosecuted in a multimillion dollar corruption case but based on a recommendation from a presidential team of doctors, the court declared him too ill to stand trial.
After 32 years in power, the former strongman was forced to step down in 1998 in the face of mass protests but many believed his cronies were still exerting an influence to prevent him from being brought to justice.
Anti-corruption groups and other activists continued pressing judicial authorities to try Soeharto for not only massive corruption but also various human rights violations during his decades of iron-fisted rule.
However, Agung said, Soeharto should be respected because of his enormous services to the state and nation.
"Still, we have to respect Pak Harto because he has rendered enormous services to the state and nation," Agung said, adding that he could only pray for Soeharto to get well soon.
Agung said that after arriving back to Jakarta on Saturday evening, he would visit Soeharto at Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta.
The former dictator, who will turn 87 in June this year, was rushed to Pertamina Hospital at 2.15 on Friday afternoon after he had been complaining about feeling weak for five days.
Meanwhile, chairman of the presidential team of doctors Mardjo Soebiandono said in press conference in Jakarta at noon on Saturday that Soeharto remained in critical condition.(*)
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