Public cast doubt on Soeharto investigation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers and activists expressed doubt on
\nThursday that the government-sponsored team assigned to
\ninvestigate former president Soeharto's wealth would be allowed
\nto work independently.<\/p>\n
\"How can we trust the team if its chairman (Attorney General
\nAndi Muhammad Ghalib) has said that he believes Soeharto's denial
\nthat he accumulated a fortune worth trillions of rupiah (during
\nhis 32 years in power)?\" lawyer Faisal Tadjuddin, the secretary-
\ngeneral of the Movement of Concerned Citizens on State Assets
\n(Gempita) told a media conference.<\/p>\n
He was referring to Ghalib's response to a statement made by
\nSoeharto on the TPI television channel, which is controlled by
\nhis eldest daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana.<\/p>\n
Ghalib said: \"He is a former president, why would you have
\ncause not believe a statement from Soeharto?\"<\/p>\n
Faisal also said that President B.J. Habibie's decision to
\ninvestigate Soeharto's wealth on Tuesday was politically
\nmotivated. \"He is only trying to win public sympathy,\" Faisal
\nsaid, referring to Soeharto's long time ally and former vice
\npresident.<\/p>\n
In Medan, Ghalib said Soeharto was ready to clarify his
\nfinancial state of affairs.<\/p>\n
Dismissing doubts that the team would be independent, Ghalib,
\nsaid leading government critics such as Amien Rais might be
\nincluded \"if necessary.\" He was speaking after a signing ceremony
\nfor a cooperative program between the Prosecutor's Office and the
\nUniversity of North Sumatra (USU).<\/p>\n
Faisal also urged the government to involve independent bodies
\nsuch as Gempita and the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) in the
\ninvestigation.<\/p>\n
Ghalib has said he may ask such bodies for information.<\/p>\n
Gempita was established in May by lawyers, activists and
\neconomists to collect information on the ill-gotten wealth and
\nassets of Soeharto and other officials in the previous
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
ICW was established in June to fight for the recovery of
\nassets obtained illegally by Soeharto and his family.<\/p>\n
Another member of Gempita, Kastorius Sinaga, drew attention to
\na number of people whom he thought would have been better
\ncandidates to chair the investigative team. He said former
\nSupreme Court judges Adi Andojo Soetjipto, Bismar Siregar and the
\nsecretary-general of the National Commission on Human Rights,
\nBaharuddin Lopa, were suitably qualified for the position.<\/p>\n
All three are prominent government critics.<\/p>\n
However, Adi said on the private SCTV channel on Thursday
\nevening that the team should be given a chance to demonstrate its
\nindependence. \"Don't be hasty to conclude that the team can't be
\ntrusted,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Minister\/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said on
\nThursday evening that Soeharto would decide on the date of when
\nthe team would ask for \"clarification\" from Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"Since we are the ones who want to meet him it is he
\n(Soeharto) who should decide on the most appropriate time,\" Akbar
\ntold reporters at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, Afan Gaffar, a political observer from Gadjah
\nMada University, said it was the House of Representatives which
\nshould have formed a team comprising House members and
\nrepresentatives of non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n
The government said on Wednesday that the team would include
\nsenior officials from the National Police Headquarters and the
\nDevelopment Finance Comptroller (BPKP).<\/p>\n
Separately at the House of Representatives on Thursday,
\nMinister of Justice Muladi called on politicians who served in
\nthe Cabinet during the Soeharto era to declare their wealth.<\/p>\n
Muladi said that the team should also investigate the wealth
\nof those who were ministers during the Soeharto era, including
\nHabibie.<\/p>\n
In his speech on TPI, Soeharto said he did not even have one
\ncent abroad. He also challenged anyone who has said he is rich to
\nback up their claims with evidence.<\/p>\n
Forbes magazine estimated in July that Soeharto, 77, had a
\nfortune worth US$4 billion. (byg\/23\/21)<\/p>",
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