Habibie pledges report on Soeharto probe
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie, whose administration is widely criticized as too spineless to take legal actions against Soeharto, promised on Tuesday an account of his campaign for clean governance which includes investigation into the former president's alleged power abuses.
"I will deliver my account during the general session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Just wait. It's now being processed," he told journalists who asked him how he implemented the MPR decree No. XI/1998 on clean governance.
Soeharto transferred the power he held for 32 years to Habibie on May 21, after student protests forced him to resign. Led by Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib, investigation into Soeharto was launched soon afterward. Until today, however, Ghalib still insists there is not enough evidence of corruption to bring Soeharto to court.
Habibie met with the media after holding a "consultation" with leaders of the House of Representatives (DPR) for three and a half hours here Tuesday.
Habibie was accompanied in the meeting by Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Alleviation Haryono Suyono, Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Coordinating Minister for Development Supervision and Administrative Reforms Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Feisal Tanjung, Home Affairs Minister Syarwan Hamid, Information Minister Muhammad Yunus and Ghalib.
House Speaker Harmoko was accompanied by his deputies Abdul Gafur, Ismail Hasan Metareum, Hari Sabarno, and Fatimah Ahmad, and DPR secretary-general Afif Ma'ruf.
Both sides discussed in the meeting the preparations for the June 7 general elections. Harmoko said 80.53 percent of the eligible voters, or 103,381,385 people, have been registered to vote.
The figure differs from that compiled by the General Elections Commission (KPU), which was 75 percent by Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Antara reported that leaders of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction, Budi Hardjono, and of the United Development Party (PPP) faction, Zarkasih Nur, expressed hope the poll would take place as scheduled.
There would be security disturbance and instability if the elections were canceled, Budi said.
"PDI doesn't want to see the next election canceled," said Budi, who is also PDI chairman.
Zarkasih raised concern about how the poll would be conducted in riot-prone areas such as Aceh, Sambas (West Kalimantan), Ambon in Maluku, East Timor, and Irian Jaya.
Separately, Director General of Public Administration and Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid said if the elections were postponed, the government's credibility would be damaged. (swe)