Buloggate II

Buloggate II

The Buloggate II case has placed House Speaker Akbar Tandjung
in a difficult situation, because his statement regarding the
submission of a check for Rp 40 billion from the State Logistics
Agency (Bulog) has always been denied by some witnesses,
including Ishadi, the head of PT Yanaprima.

Ishadi said that Bulog's former financial deputy Ahmad
Ruskandar had directly submitted the check for Rp 20 billion in a
green-colored folder to Akbar Tandjung on March 2, 1999 in the
office of the former minister/state secretary. Akbar Tandjung
directly received, opened and then placed it on a table before
instructing his staff to take the folder (Republika of Nov. 27).

Some newspapers reported on Nov. 28 that a witness, Yusnadi
Suwarta, also confirmed previous statements made by other
witnesses saying that it was Akbar Tandjung who had personally
received the check.

However, the statement of the head of Raudatul Jannah
Foundation, Dadang Sukandar, which said that he had received the
check directly from Ahmad Ruskandar differed from the statements
made by Ahmad Ruskandar, Ishadi and Yusnadi. This clearly shows
who Dadang Sukandar really is. Moreover, Dadang, at the time,
said that he had forgotten the name of his staff who cashed the
check, which is absurd. Both Akbar and Dadang have, on several
occasions, given ridiculous answers to questions posed to them.

All of us hope that prosecutors will be able to anticipate any
tall stories and eventually disclose the truth of this case by
preparing various questions and pieces of evidence to nullify the
defense statements given by Akbar and his cronies.

As for the check, it is only a matter of whether Akbar is
lying or telling the truth. Whether Bulog's funds were truly used
for the social safety net program or for the interests of his own
party, Golkar, it is well known that other parties such as the
United Development Party (PPP), the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), are
also commonly thought to have enjoyed the fund, too.

Of course, Golkar will not remain silent and will
automatically save its chairman for the sake of the party's
survival. If it proves that Golkar has used Bulog's money for its
own interests, including for its 1999 general election campaign,
the party will surely be finished.

WISDARMANTO GS

Jakarta