Akbar warns Gus Dur over Bulog scam

Akbar warns Gus Dur over Bulog scam

JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung
warned President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid on Wednesday that
his alleged involvement in the Rp 35 billion National Logistics
Agency (Bulog) scandal could be strong grounds for the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) to impeach him.

"The House will call for a trial of Gus Dur if the
investigation by the special committee indicates that the
President is allegedly involved in the scandal.

"And it is legitimate to urge the Assembly to hold a special
session if the President is found guilty," he said when asked to
comment on former National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo's
testimony here on Wednesday.

Rusdihardjo testified before the House's special committee on
Tuesday, revealing that the President was allegedly involved in
the scandal.

Sources close to the investigation said the President gave a
Rp 5 billion check, part of the Rp 35 billion funds disbursed
from the Bulog foundation, to Siti Farikha, a Semarang-based
businesswoman.

The special committee is expected to complete its
investigation into the scandal early in January next year.

Deputy House Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno regretted the
President's alleged involvement in the scandal, saying that if
Rusdihardjo's testimony was true, it was a very shameful deed for
a President.

"For Gus Dur, in his capacity as President and as a Muslim
cleric, such a deed is very disgraceful," he said.

He declined to elaborate, but conceded to having read the
report on the former Police chief's testimony before the special
committee.

In a related development, the National Awakening Party
threatened to withdraw its legislators from the special committee
membership because the investigation has gone beyond the House's
internal rulings.

Akib, the party's deputy secretary general, said his party was
considering pulling out its legislators from the special
committee because the investigation's secrecy was not guaranteed.

Taufikurrahman, chairman of the PKB faction at the House, was
not available for comment on Wednesday.

Separately, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman, dismissed the
allegation of the President's involvement in the case, saying
that media reports on Gus Dur's alleged involvement in the
scandal were merely speculation because the secrecy of
Rusdihardjo's testimony to the special committee is guaranteed by
the House's internal rulings.

"All reports about any testimonies before the committee on the
Bulog scandal are only speculation. The inquiry was held behind
closed doors and it's impossible that anything could come out
unless it was leaked.

"And if that is so, then each committee member should be held
responsible since they are prohibited from disclosing anything
discussed in committee meetings. Any disclosure of the witnesses'
testimonies would mean a violation of committee regulations," he
told journalists at his office.

Marzuki said that the special committee's reports cannot be
used as legal grounds for his office to summon Gus Dur to testify
before the hearing of the main defendant Sapuan at the South
Jakarta District Court on Dec. 5 as ordered by presiding judge
Lalu Mariyun.

"We have decided that Gus Dur does not have to appear in the
courtroom. The hearing instead will only read out his testimony
before the police investigators. We will not summon the
President. We hold on to that stand," he said firmly.

Meanwhile, political observer Ichlasul Amal said in Yogyakarta
on Wednesday that President Abdurrahman Wahid had the
constitutional right to ignore the summons of the House's special
committee.

"It's inappropriate for the President to meet the House's
summons because a President has immunity in this case," he told
reporters.

Amal suggested that President Abdurrahman convey an indirect
explanation of his alleged involvement in the Bulog scandal
through video tape which could, at the same time, represent the
President's accountability to the public.

"And if he gives a false information on tape, that can be used
as evidence to impeach him from the Presidency," he said.

Amal said Abdurrahman's legitimate power was under threat if
proven guilty. (44/bby/rms)