Calls mount for serious investigation of Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): Students protested on Wednesday's President B.J. Habibie's administration for "lacking the guts" to probe Soeharto's wealth, while, separately, rights activists also demanded an investigation into the former president's cronies.

A poll also issued on Wednesday revealed that the majority of respondents did not believe Soeharto's recent assertion on television that he did not have a fortune stashed in overseas banks.

The mounting calls as no news was forthcoming from the office of Attorney General Andi Muhammad Ghalib -- entrusted with leading the government investigation team -- about whether the probe into Soeharto's personal wealth, which was allegedly amassed illegally during his 32 years in power, would begin soon.

Rights activist Marzuki Darusman called on the investigators to give their best effort and not to lose hope despite suggestions by many that the probe would meet a dead end because it concerned powerful people.

"They must go through all the necessary steps and should only quit when they find it impossible to continue," said Marzuki, who is the deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights.

Hendardi of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI), suggested that the team start with all presidential and government decrees issued during Soeharto's regime which smacked of corruption and collusion.

"Also, it should check all projects which were run without a proper tender system, and all company shares owned by government officials," he said in a media statement.

"If the team failed, it should be dissolved," he said.

In the Central Java capital of Semarang, 100 university students staged a demonstration in front of the provincial legislative council on the same issue.

"Investigate all Soeharto's wealth, including the assets of his family and cronies, the amount of which may be enough to purchase basic commodities badly needed by the people," the students demanded.

"President B.J. Habibie should resign if he fails or lacks the courage to continue the investigation," they said.

A poll co-organized by the University of Indonesia's Laboratory for Political Sciences and Soegeng Sarjadi Syndicated Inc., suggested that Soeharto should be held accountable for all his mismanagement in the past.

"Ninety-five percent of our respondents suggested that Soeharto must be responsible for all his mismanagement, while only 3.2 percent suggested otherwise," Valina Singka Subekti, coordinator of the poll, told a media conference.

She said 74.6 percent of the 2,000 people questioned said they did not believe Soeharto's recent televised statement that he had no accounts or deposits abroad.

Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung dismissed the allegations that the government was not serious in its investigation into Soeharto's wealth.

He said the government was at the moment treating Soeharto on the principle of presumption of innocence.

He said Soeharto had "filled in a form" about his wealth.

"Anytime we find there is a problem, we'll cross-check it (with Soeharto)," he said.

Akbar cited as evidence the recent revocation of three presidential decrees, issued by Soeharto, which "contained elements of collusion and nepotism."

He was referring to Habibie's move to revoke the 1995 and 1996 presidential decrees on the 2 percent "contribution" on companies earning more than Rp 100 million (US$9,100) annually.

The contributions were "channeled" to the charitable Dana Sejahtera Mandiri (YDSM) foundation chaired by Soeharto.

On July 16, Habibie issued Presidential Instruction No. 20/1998 ordering ministers, governors, regents and mayors across Indonesia to stop extorting civil servants' "contributions" to the same foundation, Akbar said. (har/aan/imn)