Habibie urged to clarify tapped conversation

JAKARTA (JP): Members of the House of Representatives agreed on Thursday to ask President B.J. Habibie to explain the controversial tapped telephone conversation he had with Attorney General A.M. Ghalib, Antara reported.

"The Armed Forces faction does not mind (the motion to ask Habibie for clarification) as long as it is done according to the House internal rules Article 10," said chairman of the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction Ahmad Rustandi.

The article stipulates that, for the president to be asked to clarify government policies, at least 10 legislators must submit a written request to House leaders.

"If such a mechanism was to be (chosen), we would study it and consult other factions," Rustandi added.

He stressed the article does not authorize the House to "summon" the president, but only to "question" him.

When asked whether the ABRI faction would initiate the move to question the president, Rustandi said, "We have to wait for further investigation into the case."

Separately, Abu Hasan Sadzili of the ruling Golkar faction said he had agreed to discuss the motion with other factions.

However, he dismissed the suggestion that the conversation indicated Habibie was seeking to make the investigation into former president Soeharto's wealth easier on the ousted autocrat.

"The (recent issuance of) presidential instructions on the probe into Soeharto's wealth ... showed the government's serious intentions on the matter," he said.

He said it was therefore possible to ask for Habibie's clarification, he said.

Earlier, chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) faction Zarkasih Nur called on Habibie and Ghalib to come forward and give a public explanation of the matter.

"To avoid further confusion, the House must call Habibie. If it was true that he said such things (on the tapped conversation) it meant he was making a game, a farce, out of the Soeharto probe," he said on Tuesday.

Deputy House Speaker Fatimah Achmad of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) was quoted by Antara as saying there was indeed a mechanism for the House to call on Habibie to explain his version of the controversy. However, the President did not have to come in person.

"He could be represented by officials or ministers ... in a house meeting or hearing," she said.

Meanwhile, Attorney General's Office spokesman Soehandoyo noted on Thursday the House could summon Ghalib for clarification about the substance of the tapped conversation and related issues.

"There is a mechanism in the House for that," he said, adding the Ghalib, who is now in the United States for a meeting, has yet to receive such a request from the House.

In a related development, the Association of Indonesian Journalists (PWI) has reportedly set up a special defense team in a bid to provide maximum protection for journalists facing legal charges in the phone-tap case.

The team is led by veteran journalists Ilham Bintang and Wina Armada.

Police have summoned several media executives involved in the publication of the transcript of the recorded conversation. (edt)