'Bung' Karno's assets abroad

In a recent TV report, Probosutedjo, former President Soeharto's half brother, claiming to act as spokesman for the Soehartos said, apparently in an effort to defend the family of the former president, that Soeharto had no assets abroad. If anybody can prove the existence of such assets, he said, these assets may be collected and utilized in the interests of the Indonesian people. He further said that the late Bung Karno, Indonesia's first president, did have a foreign bank account with a balance amounting to US$ 94 billion. He then revealed that Mr. Sri Edi Swasono is in charge of this account. Is it true, Mr. Edi?

It may be true that the late Bung Karno's account is still being maintained abroad. Obviously, however, these funds are not the result of extortion of the Indonesian people. Reportedly, the money was a grant extended to Bung Karno prior to the outbreak of World War II and was intended to be used to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people. The money is kept in a Swiss bank and can be collected only 50 years after the end of World War II (i.e. 1995). When in 1995 this matter was reported to Soeharto, he set the condition that most of the money should be given to him as he would set himself to manage the account. Therefore, the funds have not been collected yet. I have no way of knowing whether incumbent President B.J. Habibie will be entrusted to collect the deposit and bring it back to Indonesia. Perhaps the one entitled to do so will be the next president of the Republic of Indonesia elected in the next general session of the People's Consultative Assembly, the members of which will be elected in a fair and honest general election.

As the account is in the name of Bung Karno as an individual, those most deserving to manage it are the heirs of Bung Karno, namely Ms. Megawati Soekarnoputri and her brothers and sisters, despite the fact that the money is designated to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people. Let's just wait and see.

Clearly, when collected, the deposit must not be used to repay the offshore debts of Indonesia's business tycoons. He who incurs the debt must repay it himself. The most pressing thing that the present government must do is to probe into the assets of the Soehartos and confiscate illegally amassed wealth and use it in the interests of the Indonesian people.

SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO

Jakarta