Bustanil Arifin responds

I am responding to an article by George J. Aditjondro published on Page 4 on Aug. 14 titled The myth of Chinese domination. I was referred to as former chief of the National Logistics Agency (Bulog). That much is true. The following part: "His wife Christine obtained etc., etc..." is entirely incorrect.

My wife's name is Suhardani Arifin. I need to add that Bogasari Flour Mill employs a nephew of Liem Sioe Liong named Liem Oen Kian alias Juhar Sutanto Arifin whose wife's name is Christine Arifin.

This was reported by the Far Eastern Economic Review some eight years ago. I telephoned the Review editorial office in Hong Kong to give them the correct information. I also inquired at PT Bogasari if there was a shareholder of the company named Christine Arifin. Their reply was in the affirmative, saying her shares amounted to 14 percent.

The Review never corrected the report. The Jakarta Post says Christine Arifin has a 21 percent share in the company. I do not know which figure is correct. However, I know for sure that my wife Suhardani Arifin has no shares at all in the company.

I hope this information will straighten out the biased report.

BUSTANIL ARIFIN

Jakarta