Gus Dur to testify on scandals at the palace

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid continued to reject an appearance at the House of Representatives (DPR) for questioning over two alleged financial scandals, but agreed to meet with the investigating committee at the presidential palace, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

Abdurrahman is scheduled to be questioned by the committee on Wednesday over allegations of mishandling Rp 35 billion (US$3.6 million) of State Logistic Agency (Bulog) funds and his acceptance outside government channels of a US$2 million donation from Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah for humanitarian aid to Aceh province.

Presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar said Abdurrahman would send a letter to the House later on Tuesday to inform that he would only answer queries over the two cases in writing and ruled out appearing at the House.

"The President is sending a reply to DPR explaining that members of the special committee are welcome to present the questions in the form of a letter or, if they so wish, to come and visit him in the presidential palace where they can discuss the issues," Wimar told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview.

House speaker Akbar Tandjung said later that he had received the letter on Tuesday afternoon.

The letter, which was signed by State Secretary Djohan Effendy, states that the questioning is due to take place on Jan. 23 at 2 p.m.

Abdurrahman last year challenged lawmakers investigating the scandals to prove that he had done anything wrong.

Wimar reiterated that as a president, Abdurrahman had to maintain the presidential institution and that he was under no obligation to answer the summons of a House special committee.

Earlier, he said that the President would only answer a summons if it came from the House plenary session or from a higher institution.

The President's stance was strongly criticized by the committee.

"It will be too late for the President to deliver his written answers on Jan. 23, the date the committee will draft the conclusion to its investigation," Bachtiar Chamsyah, chairman of the special committee, told the Post by phone on Tuesday.

The results of the investigation will be announced in the House's plenary session on Jan. 29.

Bachtiar said the committee would oppose an informal meeting between the President and its members at the State Palace on Jan. 23 if they were not satisfied with the President's written answers.

"Frankly speaking, we are suspicious that the President invites only certain committee members in an attempt to give an impression it is not an investigation. If the President is committed to a thorough investigation into the scandals, he should invite all committee members for clarification," he said.

Bachtiar said the committee would discuss the President's reply on Wednesday.

He said that the committee needed the testimony of both the President and his masseur, Soewondo, to complete the ongoing investigation.

"So far, we have completed 85 percent of the investigation into both cases. We need their (Abdurrahman's and Soewondo's) testimony as several witnesses mentioned their names earlier in the investigation," he said.

Ade Komaruddin, deputy chairman of the special committee, said the President was allegedly involved in both scandals and abused his power to disburse the Rp 35 billion Bulog funds.

"The conclusion is based on clarifications from two credible witnesses," he said, naming the witnesses as former National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo and former trade and industry minister Yusuf Kalla.

Soewondo, the main suspect in the Bulog scandal, failed to testify on Tuesday before the special committee due to ailing health.

Denny Azani Latief, Soewondo's lawyer, said his client could not testify before the special committee because he was suffering from acute tuberculosis and heavy stress from political pressures.

Soewondo, who is under house arrest, appeared before the special committee on Tuesday, accompanied by his wife Teti Nursetiati and his lawyer. The questioning was postponed until Friday.

In a related development, hundreds of students demonstrated at the House complex, demanding the President step down due to his failure to lead the nation and to create clean governance. (byg/rms)