CLASHES ERUPT AFTER SUHARTO AVOID A GRAFT TRIAL

JAKARTA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Clashes between 1,000 students and police erupted in central Jakarta on Thursday after former Indonesian President Suharto failed to appear at the resumption of his graft trial because of ill health.

The clashes broke out in a capital still jittery after a powerful car bomb killed 15 people the day before, an act some police said might be linked to Suharto's trial.

Students enraged over Suharto's no-show threw molotov cocktails and rocks at hundreds of police near the home of the ailing 79-year-old one-time autocrat before security personnel responded with volleys of tear gas.

Police beat dozens of students with batons as they fled, with some students also hurling rocks at homes in the leafy neighbourhood. Hundreds of pro-Suharto supporters chased some students but there had been no fighting between the two groups.

Earlier the South Jakarta Court ordered an independent team of doctors to examine Suharto after the ex-general -- as with the trial opening two weeks ago -- failed to appear.

Chief judge Lalu Mariyun adjourned the hearing until September 28.

But Suharto's lawyers said there was no chance the self-styled "father of development" who ruled for 32 years before stepping down in disgrace two years ago would be fit for future hearings. He has been charged with misusing millions of dollars.

"It will be unfair if he is brought to trial only for show," lawyer Muhammad Assegaf told reporters after the adjournment.

SIMMERING PUBLIC ANGER

Even before the clashes, public discontent over the former leader's no-show threatened to spill over in the streets.

Scores of residents near the makeshift court at the Department of Agriculture in south Jakarta threw rocks and spat at several buses ferrying hundreds of pro-Suharto supporters away from the venue. Witnesses said no one appeared to be injured.

"Were you all paid 50,000 rupiah ($6) to take part in this protest?" one resident screamed.

Police and officials have said Wednesday's massive car bomb blast at the Jakarta stock exchange in central Jakarta might be connected to the trial. Numerous bomb threats were also made on Thursday to buildings in the same area.

There are fears that attempts to force the former general to court could spark a violent backlash from his supporters, who clashed with students on Tuesday and have been accused of stoking unrest across the world's fourth most populous country.

Mariyun ordered the independent team of doctors to check Suharto before the next hearing and present their conclusions.

Indonesia's criminal code makes no clear reference to a defendant's refusal to attend court. But officials have said a presiding judge might be able to force a defendant to appear or ask the Supreme Court if the trial could be heard in absentia.

Referring to Suharto's previous strokes, his own doctors told Mariyun they feared for their patient's life should he be placed under the stress of a court hearing.

A virtual recluse under a city arrest order, local media say Suharto's wealthy children have isolated their father from the harsh criticism of his rule and scepticism over his ill health, even persuading him not to watch television news bulletins.

He has been charged with misusing up to $550 million from seven charities he controlled while in power, a fraction of the billions President Abdurrahman Wahid has said he stole.

Suharto, who has denied any wrongdoing, could face life in jail although Wahid has said he would pardon him if convicted.

FINANCIAL MARKETS WORRIED

Fears the trial might spark violence have unnerved the nation's brittle financial markets, already under a cloud as the country grapples with a variety of political and economic woes.

The day before the trial opened two weeks ago an empty bus was blown up near the court venue. There were no casualties.

After Wednesday's blast at the stock exchange, the rupiah fell against the dollar and the stock market was sliding when trading was suspended. The exchange is closed on Thursday.

Prosecutors have also said they will send a summons for each court hearing to the former general.

Many analysts say Suharto's trial and efforts to get this far have developed more as a test of Indonesia's young but fragile democracy, rather than any serious attempt to get back riches.

It has taken two years to get Suharto to trial.

But Wahid, Indonesia's only democratically elected leader, has puzzled some with the pardon offer, which he has never clearly explained.

Under Suharto's rule, Indonesia became one of the world's most corrupt nations.

Back

Forward