Gus Dur to testify on scandals at the palace

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)