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JAKARTA, April 12 (AFP)-Former Indonesian president Suharto rejected media speculation that he is funding a group of Islamic warriors, his lawyer Denny Kailimang said. "What would be the use of me doing that?" Kailimang quoted Suharto as saying. "If I wanted more [power], I'd have kept my position as president." Suharto, who stepped down in 1998 amid mass protests after 32 years in power, has been linked to the funding of a group known as the "laskar jihad" that have vowed to wage a holy war against Christians in the Maluku islands. In recent weeks, groups identifying themselves as members of the laksar jihad and armed with swords and machetes have staged demonstrations on the streets of Jakarta. They have threatened to wage war against Christians in Java if the government foils their plans to go to the eastern island of Ambon this month to join local Muslims, who have been locked in inter-communal fighting with the area's Christians since early last year. Kailimang also said that any attempt by the Attorney General's Office to detain Suharto by force would be inhumane because of his old age and failing health. Suharto is being investigated over corruption allegations. "At 78 years of age ... and taking into account other attributes such as his services as a long-time national leader, along with the results of checkups by two separate medical teams, it would be extremely inhumane for the Attorney General to attempt a forced detention," said Kailimang. Lawyers of Suharto have cited his ill health and his inability to communicate properly as reasons for not answering three summons sent since February for him to appear for questioning. President Abdurrahman Wahid has said he would pardon Suharto if a court found him guilty of corruption.
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