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Published on January 30, 2008

All had nice things to say about the former dictator who, along with family and cronies, amassed untold wealth from this resource-rich nation. The country could assuredly be much more than it is today if it weren't for the corruption and systematic abuse of power during his rule.

Among the visiting VIPs were former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who said the people of Indonesia were lucky to have him as their leader. He, along with Suharto's friends and family, pointed to "real growth and real progress" in Indonesia during Surharto's 30-plus years of iron rule.

They praised him for his role in transforming Asean into a regional bloc to be reckoned with, as well as his contribution to the modernisation of Indonesia, its political stability and its place in the world community.

For three decades, Suharto created a system dominated by his family, friends, fellow soldiers and business partners. He lived like a Javanese king. His children didn't distinguish between personal assets and state property.

National debate about his legacy resurfaced in his dying days, with public opinion split down the middle. His supporters urged the world to look at all the goods and services delivered during his time in power, while others, especially those who suffered during his rule, demanded justice for his alleged abuses.

No matter how one looks at it, Suharto left a bloody legacy that continues to haunt so many people. There are thousands upon thousands who cannot find it in themselves to forgive him, whether it's the East Timorese who fought bitterly for independence, or the communists, thousands of whom were killed in a two-year period.

For his opponents, his critics, and for friends and family of the many victims, coming to terms with the past has proven to be a difficult, if not impossible task.

Today, ten years after Suharto stepped down from power following a mass uprising, Indonesia has a lot to show for itself. It has a vibrant and critical press, not to mention a well-established and  hard-working civil society. Its academics and institutions are respected in the world community.

In a world obsessed with the global "war on terrorism", Indonesia has shown that Islam and democracy can go hand-in-hand. As the world's largest Muslim country, Indonesia sees itself, and rightly so, as having a moral obligation to take up issues that pertain to Muslims worldwide. Thailand, with its problems in the Malay-speaking, Muslim-majority South, can learn a thing or two from Indonesia.

But in spite of all the new developments and the return of democracy, it is somewhat disheartening to see that the same clique of powerful people - soldiers and business cronies - still wield power in Indonesia. One can only hope that Indonesia continues to learn something from the downfall of it's last dictator a decade ago.

Indonesia is now a democracy. But democracy is about more than "free and fair" elections.

At Suharto's funeral on Sunday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked Indonesians to "open our hearts for everything he has done", while noting that the late leader had "made mistakes because no one is perfect."

"Mistakes" may have been an understatement, but for the sake of Indonesia, let's hope that Yudhoyono was simply trying not to be divisive at the funeral.

 Under the leadership of Yudhoyono, Indonesia has made modest progress in addressing a number of shortcomings, including corruption. It still has a long way to go.

Indonesia must not let Suharto's death derail legal attempts to retrieve state assets from his family and inner circle. Some estimate his family's assets at US$15-35 billion, much of which was amassed during his reign in power. Of course, the dictator and his family always denied any wrongdoing.

To date, there has been virtually no legal accounting for the widespread abuses committed during Suharto's rule. The former dictator himself never faced trial for human rights abuses. In May, 2006, on account of Suharto's alleged poor health, prosecutors dropped one case in which he was said to have stolen $600 million from the state's coffers.

Yudhoyono came to power in 2004 partly due to promises made to tackle endemic corruption. He must live up to his words and show commitment to hold accountable the perpetrators of abuses during Suharto's three-decade reign. Only then will Indonesia come to terms with the worst of Suharto's legacy.

Don Pathan

The Nation