Habibie urged to clarify tapped conversation

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)