Habibie protecting Ghalib

Habibie protecting Ghalib

Once again the public must swallow its vexation. The hope that
President B.J. Habibie would discharge, or at least suspend,
Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib has been overturned. Habibie has
preferred to take the more lenient action of auditing Ghalib's
wealth.

Obviously, this kind of action does not satisfy the public.
Still, this is the reality people have to accept. It demonstrates
Habibie's insincerity in fighting corruption. There are many who
argue that Habibie has no choice but to protect his subordinates
since the unity of the government corps must be maintained.
Furthermore, he had to avoid humiliating a subordinate. In any
case, by taking this stance, Habibie has further damaged his
reputation.

Some people have their own presumptions regarding the roles
that Habibie and Ghalib are at present playing, for instance with
regard to former president Soeharto. For example, it is
speculated that Habibie's appointment of Ghalib was done on the
recommendation of Soeharto.

Habibie's lenient attitude could also be seen as part of an
attempt to block the anticorruption drive that is being launched
by a number of nongovernmental organizations. For certain,
Habibie, or anyone else who was a part of the old power structure
for that matter, must be observing this crusade with the greatest
discomfort since they themselves stand a very real chance of
being swept away by the tide.

Nevertheless, once again we call on President Habibie to try
to understand the public's sentiment. Habibie cannot continue to
close his eyes to the public resentment that has been directed
against the Attorney General's Office ever since Ghalib occupied
it.

On the other hand we urge the Indonesian Corruption Watch
(ICW) and other nongovernmental organizations to bolster
themselves, work together and not to bicker. Their outstanding
contribution to bringing about the great changes that we have
been experiencing lately have already been proven. If that role
were to get the support of our political parties, then there will
be reason to expect a better future ahead.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta