Govt drops search for war fund<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government announced yesterday that it has
\nended its investigation into the existence of a special fund set
\nup in the 1960s by then president, Sukarno, to finance some of
\nthe country's war campaigns at the time.<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono told reporters that the
\ninvestigation was reopened last month because of renewed
\ncontroversy over the Revolution Fund.<\/p>\n
The issue recently resurfaced now that one of the political
\nfigures at the time who administered the money is about to be
\nreleased after nearly 30 years in jail.<\/p>\n
Moerdiono said that in the absence of any concrete proof of
\nthe whereabouts of the money, the government has ended the
\ninvestigation. \"With this explanation, the government hopes that
\nthe debate about this issue will not be prolonged,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The minister was critical towards local media for fanning the
\ncontroversy which, he said, had its origins more on hearsay
\nrather than anything concrete.<\/p>\n
He also appealed to the media to stop trying to link the issue
\nwith the release of Soebandrio, the former deputy prime minister
\nwho has been incarcerated since 1966 for his role in the 1965
\nabortive coup blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).<\/p>\n
He reminded the reporters that President Soeharto decided to
\ngrant clemency to Soebandrio chiefly on humanitarian grounds, and
\nthat it had nothing to do with whether or not he would cooperate
\nwith the government in tracing the Revolution Fund.<\/p>\n
\"Is our memory that short that the man (Soebandrio) must be
\nbombarded with questions about the fund, when he has not yet
\nenjoyed his freedom. We think this is totally insensitive.\"<\/p>\n
Soebandrio, 81, is scheduled to walk out of the Cipinang
\ncorrectional facility in Jakarta on Aug. 16.<\/p>\n
The government last month was forced to reopen the Revolution
\nFund file, and question some of the people who were believed to
\nhave any knowledge about its existence, including Soebandrio.<\/p>\n
The team of the Attorney General Office yesterday met to
\nreview the results and discuss them with Moerdiono, before
\ndeciding to end the wild-goose chase.<\/p>\n
The Revolution Fund was used to finance some of Indonesia's
\nwar efforts like the campaign to win Irian Jaya from Dutch hands
\nand the \"Confrontation\" against Malaysia. The money came from
\nspecial taxes on state enterprises, and some were deposited
\nabroad with Soebandrio as one of the men who had access to it.<\/p>\n
Moerdiono explained that he personally headed the government
\nteam in 1987 to investigate the existence of any remaining money
\nin the Revolution Fund after Soebandrio wrote to President
\nSoeharto giving details about some of the money. Moerdiono was
\nthen junior minister\/cabinet secretary.<\/p>\n
In the letter, according to Moerdiono, Soebandrio stated that
\nthe remaining fund included US$450 million at the Union Bank of
\nSwitzerland, another $250,000 in a Zurich bank, $250,000 at
\nDaewoo Security's Co. in Japan, and gold bars, valued at 125
\npound sterling, at Barclay's Bank in Britain.<\/p>\n
Moerdiono said Soebandrio's claims were not supported by
\nconcrete proof that they were difficult to trace.<\/p>\n
The investigation did find some money, but nothing as large as
\nSoebandrio suggested, he said. By Oct. 1, 1987, the investigation
\nfound that the size of the actual Revolution Fund was $553,111.14
\nand Rp 1,503,983. Then there was $250,000 from a Zurich bank and
\n$250,000 at Daiwa Security.<\/p>\n
\"All these moneys went to the government's account,\" Moerdiono
\nsaid, adding however that the other claims Soebandrio made were
\ndubious and could not be confirmed.<\/p>\n
The minister said that while the government had dropped the
\ninvestigation, it would welcome anyone who may have some
\ninformation about the fund coming forward.<\/p>\n
\"To this day, we have not seen a shred of new evidence,\" he
\nsaid. \"Is it easy to find evidence and trace the Revolution Fund?
\nThe answer is no. Why not? I don't mean to insult the past, but
\nthe administration at the time was very chaotic,\" Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Attorney General Singgih, who accompanied Moerdiono
\nat the press conference, warned the media to refrain from further
\npublishing stories speculating about the Revolution Fund because
\nit has created unrest among the people.<\/p>\n
He said anyone who ran stories that are based on hearsay and
\ndo not carry any truth are liable to criminal charges. \"It's like
\nspreading lies, and those who do this should be punished.\"<\/p>\n
Singgih said that anyone who has information about the
\nRevolution Fund is encouraged to come forward and give it to his
\noffice. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-drops-search-for-war-fund-1447893297",
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