Habibie's unholy war<\/p>\n
With the presidential election only nine days away, President
\nB.J. Habibie is under pressure to accomplish his national duties
\none by one. Yesterday, he dropped the curtain on a dramatic
\ncomedy show while demonstrating strong confidence concerning his
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
When the recommendation was announced that the corruption case
\nagainst former president Soeharto be dropped due to a lack of
\nevidence, he seemed so sure that the decision would not provoke
\npublic anger or affect his chances of reelection by the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) on Oct. 20.<\/p>\n
In the past, there were repeated noisy protests against the
\nway his regime handled Soeharto's case, the investigation of
\nwhich was based on the orders of the Assembly, the country's
\nhighest lawmaking body.<\/p>\n
To many people, the announcement, which was made by acting
\nAttorney General Ismujoko, might sound neither like a 100 megaton
\nexplosive nor a firecracker. It is just the end of a farce in
\nwhich the law has been the object of mockery in the hands of a
\nregime which has arrogantly thumbed its nose at the Assembly's
\norders.<\/p>\n
It is public knowledge that the regime has been continually
\nreluctant to probe the case, which, according to foreign
\nobservers, involves billions of U.S. dollars. For the sake of his
\ntreachery, Habibie, during his 16 months of rule, has replaced at
\nleast eight attorneys general.<\/p>\n
One of them, Sudjono Atmonegoro, has repeatedly disclosed to
\nthe public that he was dismissed one day after he urged the
\nPresident to bring Soeharto to justice because he found strong
\nevidence to support allegations.<\/p>\n
In February, the local newsmagazine, Panji Masyarakat, printed
\nhis purported conversation with then attorney general Andi
\nMohammad Ghalib, in which both played down the importance of a
\ninvestigation into Soeharto. Later, Habibie reportedly told
\nleaders of the Indonesian Ulemas Council that he would not try
\nSoeharto for any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
Late last month, the deputy attorney general for criminal
\naffairs, Ramelan, said there were no suspects after conducting
\nhearings with several officials and other individuals in relation
\nto the case.<\/p>\n
A lack of political will on the part of the regime which has
\nalso limited the Attorney General's Office in its investigation
\ninto Soeharto has been limited to his foundations only, while the
\nformer tyrant has furtively or openly helped enrich his family
\nand children at the cost of Indonesian citizens.<\/p>\n
The public has long been aware of Habibie's farce but the
\nPresident was successful in buying time up until yesterday's
\nannouncement. The regime's decision is an insult in itself and
\nthose who believe in it might need to have their heads examined.<\/p>\n
Many circles have tried to seek a reason why the President was
\nso defiant against the Assembly's orders to hold an
\ninvestigation. Some said he was afraid that if Soeharto was
\nbrought to trial, the former despot would blow the cover of other
\ncorrupt practices, which include those taking place on the island
\nof Batam where Habibie's relatives rule supreme.<\/p>\n
Habibie's unholy war to defend corrupt practices is so
\narrogant that he is willing to risk his chances for reelection.
\nOr is he afraid of his own filthy shadow and is planning to
\nsacrifice everything for his former \"political professor\", as he
\nused to call Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Any possibility may be the reason. But one thing is true. His
\nlogic is very dangerous to this nation. By defying the Assembly's
\norders, he is not only showing this nation but also the whole
\nworld that in Indonesia, the higher the position of a corrupt
\nofficial, the less implications there are for the crime of graft.<\/p>\n
There have been a lot of examples of similar cases, and
\nHabibie has now confirmed them.<\/p>\n
It is now up to the Assembly to evaluate the President's
\nstatement of accountability, which will -- or perhaps will not --
\ninclude Soeharto's case.<\/p>\n
Outspoken politician Amien Rais voiced a good idea last year
\nwhen he said that Soeharto should stand trial, then return the
\nillegally obtained money and in turn be given a presidential
\npardon.<\/p>\n
Now that Amien has become Assembly speaker, this is the best
\nopportunity to appeal to fellow lawmakers to reject the attorney
\ngeneral's decision to halt the investigation and issue a new
\norder for the new president to start the investigation anew, and
\nnot only look into that which involved his foundations, but also
\nboth his official and furtive backing of family and cronies.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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