Boycott Akbar Tandjung

Boycott Akbar Tandjung

From Rakyat Merdeka

We were rightfully disappointed by the Bulog II trials as they failed to divulge the involvement of high-ranking members of Golkar and the Golkar Party as an institution for allegedly using non-budgetary Bulog funds for its own interests and for Golkar's election campaign in the 1999 general election.

On Sept. 4, the panel of judges chaired by Amiruddin Zakaria passed a verdict of three years in jail for Akbar Tandjung and 19 months each for Dadang Sukandar and Winfried Simatupang.

Former president BJ Habibie, who was most responsible in tapping the Bulog funds for some political interests has proven to be a legal untouchable. Formally, the judicial process has gone on but law and justice has been ignored.

Regardless of our disappointment, Akbar Tandjung as the second person (after BJ Habibie) to bear responsibility in this abuse of the funds was convicted as his corruption can be proven.

As the House of Representatives is a respectable institution representing the Indonesian people as a whole, Akbar Tandjung, for the sake of his moral and political responsibility, should voluntarily resign from his position as speaker of the House. We fully believe that every House member with common sense will not allow themselves be led by a convict.

If Akbar Tandjung insists on maintaining his position as the House Speaker, the New Order Alertness Committee calls on all House members to boycott every House meeting chaired by Akbar Tandjung.

This effort will become more effective if the print and electronic media boycott any reporting about Akbar Tandjung, specially in his capacity as House Speaker.

JUDILHERRY JUSTAM

Chairman of Presidium of New Order Alertness Committee

Jakarta