Exposing the corruptors

Exposing the corruptors

Perhaps the recent statement by Minister of Defense Juwono
Sudarsono that former president Soeharto still has a big
influence may be taken to support the belief (that the former
president's supporters are behind last week's bombing of the
Attorney General's Office in Jakarta). Obviously the minister has
some pretty accurate data to support his statement.

The strength of Soeharto's influence can be easily understood.
The New Order's architect who ruled this country for 32 years, he
had ample time to establish such a strong influence.

This, though, must not lead us to give in. The legal process
against the former president and his cronies must go on, whatever
the obstacles.

In the meantime we must not be trapped into finger pointing at
each other, only because the bomb was made by Pindad (state
armament factory) and is a standard weapon used by the Indonesian
Military (TNI). It could be that some elements within the TNI are
still loyal to the New Order leader and are acting outside the
proper line of command by giving outsiders bombs.

The government must be firm in its resolve to settle old
corruption cases and at the same time prevent the emergence of
cases such as those that led to the downfall of the New Order.

The recent bombing, indeed, could give us a new clue in our
efforts to uncover the corruptors identities.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta