Arrest and try BI officials

Arrest and try BI officials

The results are in on an investigation carried out by the
Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP), which was probing a total
Rp 106 trillion of Bank Indonesian Liquidity Support (BLBI)
recorded as of Jan. 31, 2000.

The investigation revealed that more than half, or about Rp
54.5 trillion, was channeled to 10 banks, which had their
operations suspended, and to 32 others whose business activities
were suspended. This action belongs in the category of
manipulation with indications of corruption and crime.

Therefore, it is only right that the government, the chief of
the National Police and the attorney general immediately arrest
Bank Indonesia officials (and former officials) involved in
corruption (and bank crimes) as well as those bank owners and
management who have enjoyed the BLBI facilities.

Also the government must revoke, or at least revise, the
Central Bank Law as it tends to hamper the work of the internal
audit body in tracing BLBI funds channeled to several national
private banks.

Trillions of rupiah is no small amount. In fact, the
government could spend those trillions of rupiah to settle the
conflicts in Ambon/Maluku, Aceh and so forth. And the government
could also fork out several trillions of rupiah to stimulate the
economy, intensify the agroindustry and many other things.

In addition, it is the heavily corrupted morality of Bank
Indonesia officials (and former officials) which is responsible
for the channeling of hundreds of trillions of rupiah into the
pockets of bankers.

Worse still, as the comptroller has reported, various
important documents needed as evidence have been missing or have
intentionally been lost with the result that BPKP has been
seriously obstructed in tracing (auditing) the use of the BLBI
funds. It is very clear that these bankers have criminal
intentions (by losing the material evidence) in an attempt to
free themselves from all obligations and we must demand the
return of BLBI funds that they manipulated.

Keep up the struggle, Mr. Satrio B. Joedono, chairman of the
Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) and Mr. Arie Sulendro, chairman of
BPKP. The entire people support you both as your agencies have
shown a patriotic performance. We are now waiting for President
Abdurrahman Wahid, National Police chief Rusdihardjo and Attorney
General Marzuki Darusman to do the same. We will see if they are
really willing to arrest corruptors, who may be regarded as
national traitors, or if they will be hand in glove with the
corrupt business tycoons.

RACHMAT BASOEKI SOEROPRANOTO

Coordinator of FAKtor

Front Against Corrupt Business Tycoons

Jakarta