Sukarno's Role: An Exile at Home (New York Times, 27 Oktober 1968)

=== [PDF page 1] === SUKARNO'S ROLE: AN EXILE AT HOME: ISOLATED EX-LEADER QUIZZED ABOUT O By TERENCE SMITHSpecial to The New York Times New York Times (1923-); Oct 27, 1968; ProQuest SUKARNO'S ROLE: | AN EXILE AT HOME Isolated Ex-Leader Quizzed About Outside Contacts By TERENCE SMITH Special to The New York Times JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 24 —He tives now in splendid iso- Jation, a lonely, pathetic figure in exile in his own country. . Mr. Sukarno—the man who once bore the exalted titles of President for Life and Great Hero of the Revolution, the man who stirred this nation to impossible dreams of greatness with flaming oratory—is now all but invisible here. He is seen rarely, riding in a light green Chrysler sedan, visiting the lush botanical gardens near Bogor, the site of his elegant $150,000 villa, which he shares with his second wife. Bogor is a mountain resort 40 miles south of Jakarta. Occasionally he comes to the capital, escorted by several jeeps -illed with armed soldiers, to see his doctor about an ailing kidney and high blood pressure. By Government order, the 67year-old former President lives under house arrest and sees no one outside his family circle. Even Yuriko, his 24-yearold fifth wife, says she has not seen him for months. Interrogation Disclosed After a long absence, Mr. Sukarno’s name made headlines again early this month when President. Suharto confirmed that his predecessor was being interrogated by military investigators to determine whether he had been in clandestine contact with some of his former political associates. Pressed by reporters, the new President declined to elaborate, aside from saying: “Nothing can be said about his guilt until we have all the results.” “This public confirmation of the interrogation set off a rash of rumors and stories in this gossipy capital, proving once again that the Sukarno name still grips the imagination and interest of many Indonesians. -Having aroused the curiosity of his audience, President Suhgrto then fell mute. Privately, however, reliable sources in the administration have disclosed that the former President has acknowledged that he has been in touch with his supporters, several of whom still hold senior positions in Jakarta. * Four Reported Named eMr. Sukarno is reported to have named four persons —three Government: officials atjd a general—with whom he hag been in contact through Hartini, his second wife. Martini, herself a political activist and former chairmaa of Gerwani, the Indonesian Communist women’s organizati6n, has been able to come and go frecly during the last two yéars, while the former President has been required to get Government approval to leave the spacious grounds surrounding his house. ‘According to the sources, she! Served as courier, carrying mes- Sages between her husband and his associates. The precise nature of the communications has not been disclosed, but a_ well-placed source said today that the Government had “definite evidence of renewed political activity by Sukarno and his people.” “We don't know exactly what their plans were,’? the source said, “but their goal was to re- Store the old order—with the Bung at the head if possible.” Bung, meaning Brother, is a nickname for Mr. Sukarno. Implicated by Communists The inquiry into Mr. Sukarno’s activities was apparently prompted by statements made by Communist Jeaders arrested in military operations in eastern Java during the last four months. In September, the Government announced it had killed or captured 2,000 party memhers in the southern Blitar region, including several top leaders, among them Oloan Hutapea, chairman of the Central Committee of P.K.I., or Communist party. The leaders implicated some of Mr. Sukarno’s associates and hinted that they, in turn, had been in contact with the former President.. Armed with this information, the Government brought Mr. Sukarno to Jakarta for questioning in mid-September. Although the Interrogation is apparently over for the time being, Mr. Sukarno is still in: Jakarta. Several military policemen—a sure sign of his presence—were posted today outside the sprawling Dutch-style “bungalow” that the former President built for his third wife, Dewi, who now lives in' Europe. The interrogation of Mr. Sukarno has evoked renewed demands from certain political leaders and newspapers that the Government bring the forwer President to trial on! charges of complicity in the Communist coup attempt of September, 1965. President Suharto, despite: considerable public and private pressure, is suid to be reluc-; ant to bring Mr. Sukarno into count, He is understood to be satisfied with the manner in which Mr. Sukarno has been isolated, and he is said to be unwilling to jeopardize the rel-, ative political stability that pre-' vails n the moment - Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.