Experts debate Riady's role in U.S. election

Experts debate Riady's role in U.S. election

JAKARTA (JP): Most call it "pure business", but some say that
the hundreds of thousands of dollars that Indonesian billionaire
James Riady donated to the U.S.'s Democratic Party should have
been spent here on improving life for Indonesians.

Riady's financial contributions, now a major issue in the U.S.
election campaign, have also stirred a debate in his home
country. Some experts question the patriotism of Riady, whose
family owns the widely diversified Lippo Group.

But most experts say that they did not see anything wrong
with the donations, Antara reported yesterday.

"It's purely business (interest)," M. Budyatna, dean of the
School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of
Indonesia, told the news agency.

"It's normal that an entrepreneur is concerned about his
future profits. The way I see it, James Riady is banking on
(incumbent president) Clinton's victory to help his business (in
the U.S.)," Budyatna said.

Calling Riady's nationalism into question solely because of
these donations is inappropriate because political donations are
part of his business strategy.

Budyatna notes that many Asian companies have been successful
in their lobbying efforts in the United States, and that Riady is
merely pursuing a similar course.

Political analyst Arbi Sanit, also of the University of
Indonesia, said the donations should be viewed as an investment
cost for Riady's multinational corporation.

"It has to do with business, and it seems that James Riady
considers the world is where his business is. And that is
perfectly legitimate," Arbi said.

The only catch, he conceded, is that the profit from such
investments will not necessarily come back to Indonesia.

Sayidiman Suryohadiprodjo, a retired Army general and a
political thinker, said that companies make donations to
political groups everywhere, not just in the United States.

"It is normal for a businessman to foster relations with
government officials," he said, adding that this need not
necessarily mean that they are in collusion.

However, Sayidiman called for Riady to make financial
donations, such as giving scholarships to children from poor
families, toward the development of Indonesia. He added that he
did not know how much James Riady has done on this front.

The strongest criticisms against James Riady came from
Suhardiman, a senior statesman and deputy chairman of the Supreme
Advisory Council, who called the businessman "unpatriotic".

"It's true that there are no regulations preventing any
Indonesian citizen from supporting the election campaign abroad,
but this goes against political ethics," Suhardiman, "I want the
government to watch him."

Suhardiman said the money donated to the Clinton campaign
could have been better spent on the Indonesian programs to
eradicate poverty or to assist small enterprise development
within the country.

Moh. Jumhur Hidayat, executive director of the think-tank
group Center for Information and Development Studies, said
whatever money is taken out of Indonesia represents "capital
flight" and is detrimental to the country.

"Indonesia still needs a lot of funds for its development, and
this should get priority," Jumhur said, adding that Riady owes
his prosperity to support from people in Indonesia.

"Let's hope this is just a one-off thing. Don't let this set a
precedent for other business people to follow," he said.

Tubagus Haryono, the chairman of the Indonesian National Youth
Committee, describes the donations as a "collusion between an
Indonesian citizen and the American political elite, purely for
personal interests."

Tubagus doubts whether the donations will boost Indonesian
exports to the United States.

The practice of collusion would also tarnish the image of
Indonesia abroad, he added. (emb)