Indonesia Politics

The parliament Thursday censured President Abdurrahman Wahid over his alleged involvement in two corruption scandals, a move that could lead to impeachment proceedings. Wahid's case will be handed over to legal authorities for possible prosecution, parliament Speaker Akbar Tanjung said after the censure decision was announced on national television. The president is refusing to quit despite the censure and protests by more than 10,000 students outside the parliament.

President Abdurrahman Wahid walked out of a graft inquiry by senior lawmakers, saying he would not submit to the investigation because it was unconstitutional and politically motivated. Wahid, facing growing demands to resign, denied any wrongdoing when he reluctantly appeared before the panel, which is investigating his alleged involvement in two corruption scandals.

Government officials and security chiefs have rejected Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid's request to release five separatist leaders, news reports said Saturday. The refusal is a blow for Wahid, who has faced increasing criticism from human rights groups and foreign governments over a crackdown on separatists in Indonesia's restive provinces.

Tensions between Indonesian forces and separatists pushing for Irian Jaya's independence exploded into violence Saturday when police fired on a group wielding bows and arrows during a clash. Eight people were killed. Gen. Sylvanus Wenas, a top police commander in the troubled province, said the two sides clashed after the separatists tried to raise an outlawed rebel flag in the southeastern town of Merauke.

Indonesia has detained two independence leaders in Irian Jaya and threatened to haul in others, raising fears of new separatist violence in the eastern province. Bruised by the loss of East Timor last year and facing separatists in Aceh province, Indonesia struck quickly this week. As about 100 anti-riot officers stood guard, police questioned Theys Eluay, head of the Papuan Presidium Council, the region's main independence group.

Prosecutors said they would search former Indonesian President Suharto's family estate in the hunt for his son, who is on the run from a jail sentence for graft. Atty. Gen. Marzuki Darusman said he believes that Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra was hiding out at his home on the estate in central Jakarta, the capital. "Our first search will focus on Tommy's official address," one news report quoted Darusman as saying. It is the most serious attempt to find Hutomo since he disappeared Friday.

The son of former Indonesian dictator Suharto was missing after prosecutors issued a warrant for his arrest and imprisonment on a corruption conviction. A team of officials, backed by a dozen police officers, arrived at the central Jakarta home of Hutomo Mandala Putra, 38, at dusk in pouring rain. They repeatedly banged on a 7-foot front gate, but there was no sign of Hutomo at the mansion.

East Timorese militia leader Eurico Guterres was arrested on charges he ordered his followers to hide rather than turn over their weapons, police said. Indonesian national police chief Gen. Bimantoro Suroyo also accused Guterres of instructing hundreds of his men to take back guns already handed over to police. Guterres could be imprisoned for six years if convicted. Earlier this week, he warned that his followers would unleash a new wave of violence if he was arrested.

Former President Suharto, defying efforts to hold him accountable for the widespread graft that marked his 32-year rule, failed to appear in court Thursday for the first day of his trial on corruption charges. Suharto is accused of stealing at least $571 million while he was Indonesia's leader, but 23 doctors employed by his defense team said he is losing his memory and is too ill to stand the rigors of a court appearance.

East Timorese leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao quit as leader of the territory's top pro-independence group, the strongest sign yet that he will not accept the presidency. Gusmao, who had been jailed by Indonesia for leading a separatist rebellion in the former province, has repeatedly ruled out seeking the presidency, but many had expected him to be drafted.