Sofjan denies travel ban still remains in effect<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Sofjan Wanandi refuted reports on
\nMonday that he was banned from overseas travel, saying he had
\nreceived permission to travel from President Abdurrahman Wahid
\nhimself.<\/p>\n
According to Sofjan, the ban imposed through a finance
\nministry decree was a "technical problem" which had been cleared
\nup.<\/p>\n
Sofjan said he would soon be going to the United States to
\nprepare for the President's visit there.<\/p>\n
"I must go to the U.S. for a medical check-up and to prepare
\nGus Dur's meeting with several congress members," Sofjan said
\nafter attending a weekly economics meeting at Bina Graha
\npresidential office.<\/p>\n
"The President has given his approval."<\/p>\n
Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo in Decree No. 142 dated
\nMay 15, slapped a six-month travel ban on 125 businesspeople
\nconnected with liquidated banks.<\/p>\n
Sofjan was blacklisted in his capacity as president
\ncommissioner of the liquidated Bank Danahutama.<\/p>\n
But Sofjan maintains that the decree had already been
\ndiscussed in Cabinet on May 17, which decided to ease the travel
\nban for cooperative bankers.<\/p>\n
The Cabinet decided to allow the 125 business people to go
\nabroad as long as they can provide a written guarantee from their
\nlawyers, Sofjan said.<\/p>\n
Sofjan has played an increasing role in the government through
\nhis capacity as chairman of the National Business Development
\nCouncil.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged on Friday that he still has a debt to the
\ngovernment of about Rp 5 billion, but insisted that he could not
\nfully repay the money because other Danahutama shareholders,
\nnotably businessman The Ning King and the Bank BBD Foundation,
\nhad not repaid their obligations.<\/p>\n
When asked what the President said about the matter, Sofjan
\nreplied: "He just laughed, and asked me to pay my debts".
\n(prb\/cst)<\/p>",
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