Pop star, presidential candidate and indicted war criminal - former Indonesian strong man General Wiranto is on the comeback trail.On Foreign Correspondent, the ABCs Indonesia reporter Tim Palmer joins the General as he campaigns for a political return. The first hurdle - cleared successfully - presidential nomination of Golkar- the party founded by General Suharto.But in East Timor, theres mounting outrage at the suggestion that Wiranto will never stand trial for charges of murder and persecution.In other parts of Indonesia suffering increasing prices and high unemployment, theres a hankering for what many people see as the good old days of the Suharto regime.
Note: Between 00:00:00 and 00:16:00 is music over blackPALMER: Indonesian politics owe more to football fever than the campaign trail. Noise obliterates any message. If it werent for the colours you mightnt be able to tell them apart.Still after fifty years when Indonesians knew only the khaki of military dictatorship its variety that counts.But Indonesias two traditional political giants are in trouble and leaking votes.In the yellow, the Golkar Party that ran Suhartos dictatorship is desperate to return to power. And its one of Suhartos own Generals, Wiranto, whos emerged to serenade supporters with the message that he can save the party, on the way to saving the country.
00:00
WIRANTO: Thank you. Im so proud so touched by your spirit.
PALMER: In the moshpit of Indonesian politics General Wiranto rulesIts not all showbiz theres a message of sorts. President Megawati Sukarnoputri has failed -Wiranto is the man in touch with the people.
01:26
To reach the Presidential palace, Wiranto must first oust Megawati, the daughter of Indonesias founding father and first dictator Sukarno.
MEGAWATI: There are people who say Megawati is only a home maker.
PALMER: The homespun message to her PDIP fans ignores the political reality. Tens of millions of Indonesians are out of work, infant mortality is up, prices have soared.
02:14
WIRANTO: The Government Of Indonesia must provide progress and prosperity for this country, and educate the people.
02:49
PALMER: For the past few months the Wiranto travelling circus has blitzed Indonesia. Its Tuesday so its Balikpapan in Kalimantan, even for just an hour.And at every stop, the excited reception only confirms Wirantos conviction that the Presidency is his destiny.
WIRANTO: I have a great duty to this country.
02:57
At this moment I feel Indonesia needs a strong leader who knows Indonesias and knows how to solve them. I have that capability.
03:33
PALMER: The act is more pop star than statesman, but General Wiranto believes his strong and decisive leadership can drag Indonesia from crisis.
WIRANTO: I dont think its the pop star that makes me popular, but my position in the past as a defence minister and Commander of the Armed Forces. While I was doing my job
03:50
Indonesia faced critical problems big problems. And every day for two years I was always on television explaining my decisions to Indonesians.
04:34
GENERAL NASUTION: The crowds know him well, know him as a singer, know him as a good soldier, know him as a future leader of Indonesia. So I think thats normal.PALMER: They love him?
GENERAL NASUTION: I love him too. Not only they, I love him too.
04:49
PALMER: This rally is general Wirantos last chance to send his supporters into a political fever before they head off to the polling booths to elect a new parliament. And after that hell be back on the road for the main game: Indonesias first ever direct presidential election. Historic that may be, but so far the Wiranto roadshow has been typical for the race for the presidential palace; big on colour and movement, short on policy detail. His supporters here either dont know or dont care about the shadows from East Timor that hang over Wiranto. Theyre more interested in a free t-shirt, a catchy tune and the vague promise of better times to come.
05:12
Not that he wants to bore his fans with details and for that he blames the weather.
WIRANTO: In campaigns its impossible to speak to various people about visions and missions its too hot. If you gave long explanations people would throw stones at you
PALMER: Instead a few grand gestures from the VIP tent, swamp any real political dialogue.
06:33
Back on the private jet, the Wiranto team plans the next offensive.
PALMER: Does it start to get confusing, helicopter one day, plane?
WIRANTO: Yeah, yeah but tomorrow I must meet their people in two towns.
PALMER: General Nasution, a mentor of Wirantos from the army holds up his protégé as Indonesias finest.
GENERAL NASUTION: He is the best son of Indonesia. As a person
06:48
I think he is a wise man, hes fair, hes fair, hes keeping for the regulation, he honours our constitution. Everything thats needed to become a president, hes got everything for that one.
07:24
PALMER: And Wirantos not the only ghost from the Suharto days trying to sell strength and tough leadership to voters.His major rival from army days, the disgraced former General Subianto Prabowo the son-in-law of General Suharto believes hes the one to run Indonesia.
07:53
Even Suhartos daughter Tutut is dipping in to the family billions to try her hand at politics.
WIMAR WITOELAR: I think people are nostalgic for stability, for jobs, for lower prices but they are not necessarily nostalgic for Suharto and his crowd. They are nostalgic for people who can bring that world back.
08:19
WIMAR WITOELAR: I think it both ironic and amusing that you have political parties, I mean political candidates like Wiranto, Prabowo and Tutut.
08:43
PALMER: Wimar Witoelar is a political commentator and was adviser to President Wahid when Wiranto was dumped as defence minister.
WIMAR WITOELAR: When he was fired by President Wahid in January 2000, I think he really believed his public career was finished, so he just
08:53
went into hiding, you know tried to keep his health and forgot everything. But within the space of these few years, from 2000 and now,
09:10
Indonesias reform movement floundered. You see crooks rising up again. Its like the Night of the Living Dead, where all these zombies come up.
09:20
PALMER: Far being a zombie though, Wiranto claims hes a true democrat. Wiranto says In 1998 Suharto offered him ultimate power, instead he chose the path of democracy.
WIRANTO: I have a principle
09:33
that when a person becomes the president of a country he must have the authority to bring goodness to his country. I recognised that with the authority I had in 1998, I couldnt possibly solve the problems of the country.
09:52
PALMER: Even so its undeniable that his time as military chief saw gross violations of human rights across Indonesia.
10:19
The worst of all in East Timor after it voted for independence as militia gangs tore through the province.
RAMOS-HORTA: I met General Wiranto on more than one occasion.
10:30
In June 99 when I first met him, I told him about the need for him to stop the militia gangs in East Timor.He answered to me he said If he wanted, he would stop them within a matter of hours. And then I said, And why dont you? He went silent. He knew of the plans, the activities of the militias in East Timor back then. He didnt do anything to prevent the bloodshed.
10:44
PALMER: This special International Court in Dili has already passed judgment on some minor actors in the atrocities from East Timor. Now the United Nations funded Serious Crimes Unit wants the main player in the dock.Wiranto has already been indicted for crimes against humanity for murder, forced deportation and persecution.
NICHOLAS KOUMJIAN: In this case General Wiranto knew or had reason to know
11:18
of crimes against humanity committed by his subordinates. That he failed to take reasonable and necessary measures to either prevent the crimes or to punish the perpetrators
11:55
PALMER: American Lawyer Nicholas Koumjian is turning the grim remnants of war into evidence. The UN estimates more than 1200 East Timorese died and a quarter of a million were forced to flee as refugees.That the commander of the Indonesian forces supposedly in control at the time now feels free to seek his countrys presidency, sticks in the throat of the East Timorese.
12:09
RAMOS-HORTA: Well obviously it is up to the Indonesian people to vote for whoever they want in a democracy. They can elect a lunatic, an idiot. They can elect someone like Wiranto.
12:39
I would hope that the electorate wouldnt inflict that much embarrassment, damage to their own country, to their own name by electing someone like Wiranto because of his record in East Timor in 99.
12:52
NICHOLAS KOUMJIAN: I think the world movement towards accountability, towards the ending of crimes against humanity would suffer if those who organised the violence in 1999 in East Timor, were not brought to account.
13:09
PALMER: Wiranto insists hes already been cleared by the Indonesian justice system.
WIRANTO: I feel that the East Timor issue has been legally solved consistently and consequently by the government of Indonesia.
13:23
It has become a matter between countries. I went through a fair and honest investigation and trial process. And its done now. So with this issue being discussed again it demonstrates theres a strong will to make East Timor a problem for my campaign as a candidate for President in Indonesia.
PALMER: Despite Wirantos claim
13:40
hes never been tried or exonerated anywhere.The question of Wirantos morality is scarcely an issue in Indonesia, but the shadow of prosecution is political lead weight. Ask
14:11
Wirantos main rival for the Golkar nomination, party chairman Akbar Tandjung. Accused of stealing millions of relief money, he escaped jail on a legal technicality.
14:27
WIMAR WITOELAR: Akbar Tanjung was being hounded by the courts and escaped. Wiranto may be thinks he can do that, but hes no nimble dancer like Akbar Tanjung.
14:39
WIMAR WITOELAR: I think General Wiranto realises that hes very lucky to have escaped the jaws of justice in international condemnation, domestic terror,
14:48
and find himself slowly coming out to be quite respectable and in some ways lionised. But I guess he doesnt know that people see him as sort of a curiosity and even Golkar yeah its sort of neat to invite Wiranto to your party. Its like if Hitler was still alive, you would ask him to entertain at your office function. So I think hes sort of somebody who is at the crossroads in his image. Is it for real - this respectability - or it is just the last gasps of a dying career?
PALMER: But the stage lights arent being switched off on the ambitious soldier with the voice of gold, quite yet.Wiranto it seems, like the melody, is intent on lingering on.
15:44
WIRANTO STRONGMAN OF INDONESIA:
Reporter: Tim Palmer
Camera: David Anderson
Editor: John McElhinney
Research: Ake Prihantari
Ari WuryntamaP
roducer: Ian Altschwager
Note: Between 00:00:00 and 00:16:00 is music over blackPALMER: Indonesian politics owe more to football fever than the campaign trail. Noise obliterates any message. If it werent for the colours you mightnt be able to tell them apart.Still after fifty years when Indonesians knew only the khaki of military dictatorship its variety that counts.But Indonesias two traditional political giants are in trouble and leaking votes.In the yellow, the Golkar Party that ran Suhartos dictatorship is desperate to return to power. And its one of Suhartos own Generals, Wiranto, whos emerged to serenade supporters with the message that he can save the party, on the way to saving the country.
00:00
WIRANTO: Thank you. Im so proud so touched by your spirit.
PALMER: In the moshpit of Indonesian politics General Wiranto rulesIts not all showbiz theres a message of sorts. President Megawati Sukarnoputri has failed -Wiranto is the man in touch with the people.
01:26
To reach the Presidential palace, Wiranto must first oust Megawati, the daughter of Indonesias founding father and first dictator Sukarno.
MEGAWATI: There are people who say Megawati is only a home maker.
PALMER: The homespun message to her PDIP fans ignores the political reality. Tens of millions of Indonesians are out of work, infant mortality is up, prices have soared.
02:14
WIRANTO: The Government Of Indonesia must provide progress and prosperity for this country, and educate the people.
02:49
PALMER: For the past few months the Wiranto travelling circus has blitzed Indonesia. Its Tuesday so its Balikpapan in Kalimantan, even for just an hour.And at every stop, the excited reception only confirms Wirantos conviction that the Presidency is his destiny.
WIRANTO: I have a great duty to this country.
02:57
At this moment I feel Indonesia needs a strong leader who knows Indonesias and knows how to solve them. I have that capability.
03:33
PALMER: The act is more pop star than statesman, but General Wiranto believes his strong and decisive leadership can drag Indonesia from crisis.
WIRANTO: I dont think its the pop star that makes me popular, but my position in the past as a defence minister and Commander of the Armed Forces. While I was doing my job
03:50
Indonesia faced critical problems big problems. And every day for two years I was always on television explaining my decisions to Indonesians.
04:34
GENERAL NASUTION: The crowds know him well, know him as a singer, know him as a good soldier, know him as a future leader of Indonesia. So I think thats normal.PALMER: They love him?
GENERAL NASUTION: I love him too. Not only they, I love him too.
04:49
PALMER: This rally is general Wirantos last chance to send his supporters into a political fever before they head off to the polling booths to elect a new parliament. And after that hell be back on the road for the main game: Indonesias first ever direct presidential election. Historic that may be, but so far the Wiranto roadshow has been typical for the race for the presidential palace; big on colour and movement, short on policy detail. His supporters here either dont know or dont care about the shadows from East Timor that hang over Wiranto. Theyre more interested in a free t-shirt, a catchy tune and the vague promise of better times to come.
05:12
Not that he wants to bore his fans with details and for that he blames the weather.
WIRANTO: In campaigns its impossible to speak to various people about visions and missions its too hot. If you gave long explanations people would throw stones at you
PALMER: Instead a few grand gestures from the VIP tent, swamp any real political dialogue.
06:33
Back on the private jet, the Wiranto team plans the next offensive.
PALMER: Does it start to get confusing, helicopter one day, plane?
WIRANTO: Yeah, yeah but tomorrow I must meet their people in two towns.
PALMER: General Nasution, a mentor of Wirantos from the army holds up his protégé as Indonesias finest.
GENERAL NASUTION: He is the best son of Indonesia. As a person
06:48
I think he is a wise man, hes fair, hes fair, hes keeping for the regulation, he honours our constitution. Everything thats needed to become a president, hes got everything for that one.
07:24
PALMER: And Wirantos not the only ghost from the Suharto days trying to sell strength and tough leadership to voters.His major rival from army days, the disgraced former General Subianto Prabowo the son-in-law of General Suharto believes hes the one to run Indonesia.
07:53
Even Suhartos daughter Tutut is dipping in to the family billions to try her hand at politics.
WIMAR WITOELAR: I think people are nostalgic for stability, for jobs, for lower prices but they are not necessarily nostalgic for Suharto and his crowd. They are nostalgic for people who can bring that world back.
08:19
WIMAR WITOELAR: I think it both ironic and amusing that you have political parties, I mean political candidates like Wiranto, Prabowo and Tutut.
08:43
PALMER: Wimar Witoelar is a political commentator and was adviser to President Wahid when Wiranto was dumped as defence minister.
WIMAR WITOELAR: When he was fired by President Wahid in January 2000, I think he really believed his public career was finished, so he just
08:53
went into hiding, you know tried to keep his health and forgot everything. But within the space of these few years, from 2000 and now,
09:10
Indonesias reform movement floundered. You see crooks rising up again. Its like the Night of the Living Dead, where all these zombies come up.
09:20
PALMER: Far being a zombie though, Wiranto claims hes a true democrat. Wiranto says In 1998 Suharto offered him ultimate power, instead he chose the path of democracy.
WIRANTO: I have a principle
09:33
that when a person becomes the president of a country he must have the authority to bring goodness to his country. I recognised that with the authority I had in 1998, I couldnt possibly solve the problems of the country.
09:52
PALMER: Even so its undeniable that his time as military chief saw gross violations of human rights across Indonesia.
10:19
The worst of all in East Timor after it voted for independence as militia gangs tore through the province.
RAMOS-HORTA: I met General Wiranto on more than one occasion.
10:30
In June 99 when I first met him, I told him about the need for him to stop the militia gangs in East Timor.He answered to me he said If he wanted, he would stop them within a matter of hours. And then I said, And why dont you? He went silent. He knew of the plans, the activities of the militias in East Timor back then. He didnt do anything to prevent the bloodshed.
10:44
PALMER: This special International Court in Dili has already passed judgment on some minor actors in the atrocities from East Timor. Now the United Nations funded Serious Crimes Unit wants the main player in the dock.Wiranto has already been indicted for crimes against humanity for murder, forced deportation and persecution.
NICHOLAS KOUMJIAN: In this case General Wiranto knew or had reason to know
11:18
of crimes against humanity committed by his subordinates. That he failed to take reasonable and necessary measures to either prevent the crimes or to punish the perpetrators
11:55
PALMER: American Lawyer Nicholas Koumjian is turning the grim remnants of war into evidence. The UN estimates more than 1200 East Timorese died and a quarter of a million were forced to flee as refugees.That the commander of the Indonesian forces supposedly in control at the time now feels free to seek his countrys presidency, sticks in the throat of the East Timorese.
12:09
RAMOS-HORTA: Well obviously it is up to the Indonesian people to vote for whoever they want in a democracy. They can elect a lunatic, an idiot. They can elect someone like Wiranto.
12:39
I would hope that the electorate wouldnt inflict that much embarrassment, damage to their own country, to their own name by electing someone like Wiranto because of his record in East Timor in 99.
12:52
NICHOLAS KOUMJIAN: I think the world movement towards accountability, towards the ending of crimes against humanity would suffer if those who organised the violence in 1999 in East Timor, were not brought to account.
13:09
PALMER: Wiranto insists hes already been cleared by the Indonesian justice system.
WIRANTO: I feel that the East Timor issue has been legally solved consistently and consequently by the government of Indonesia.
13:23
It has become a matter between countries. I went through a fair and honest investigation and trial process. And its done now. So with this issue being discussed again it demonstrates theres a strong will to make East Timor a problem for my campaign as a candidate for President in Indonesia.
PALMER: Despite Wirantos claim
13:40
hes never been tried or exonerated anywhere.The question of Wirantos morality is scarcely an issue in Indonesia, but the shadow of prosecution is political lead weight. Ask
14:11
Wirantos main rival for the Golkar nomination, party chairman Akbar Tandjung. Accused of stealing millions of relief money, he escaped jail on a legal technicality.
14:27
WIMAR WITOELAR: Akbar Tanjung was being hounded by the courts and escaped. Wiranto may be thinks he can do that, but hes no nimble dancer like Akbar Tanjung.
14:39
WIMAR WITOELAR: I think General Wiranto realises that hes very lucky to have escaped the jaws of justice in international condemnation, domestic terror,
14:48
and find himself slowly coming out to be quite respectable and in some ways lionised. But I guess he doesnt know that people see him as sort of a curiosity and even Golkar yeah its sort of neat to invite Wiranto to your party. Its like if Hitler was still alive, you would ask him to entertain at your office function. So I think hes sort of somebody who is at the crossroads in his image. Is it for real - this respectability - or it is just the last gasps of a dying career?
PALMER: But the stage lights arent being switched off on the ambitious soldier with the voice of gold, quite yet.Wiranto it seems, like the melody, is intent on lingering on.
15:44
WIRANTO STRONGMAN OF INDONESIA:
Reporter: Tim Palmer
Camera: David Anderson
Editor: John McElhinney
Research: Ake Prihantari
Ari WuryntamaP
roducer: Ian Altschwager