Habibie's outstanding debt

Habibie's outstanding debt

The doubts which the public have harbored concerning the fate of the case against the former attorney general, Andi M. Ghalib, have proven justified. Military police authorities have decided to halt their investigation of the case on the grounds there was not sufficient proof that Ghalib engaged in corruption.

This decision reflects the authorities' lack of responsiveness toward the public's demands. We are now justified in questioning the sincerity of the promise which the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) leadership made to bring about a repositioning and reorientation of the TNI's bearings in response to the changes that occurred. The uncommunicative manner in which the Ghalib case is being handled and the tendency to simplify matters not only dissatisfies the public, it also does not help us to realize the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) decree regarding the establishment of clean governance.

The decision also illustrates President B.J. Habibie's weaknesses. If he was serious in his efforts, Habibie would have ordered an investigation of all of Ghalib's bank accounts and made the findings public. Until he publicly and personally explains why the investigation of Ghalib's case is being halted, Habibie will politically have a debt outstanding to the public.

Unless Habibie explains, unhealthy rumors will flourish. For example, people might think that the remaining 15 of Ghalib's bank accounts, which the military investigators have failed to audit, are linked to Habibie's personal interests or to the interests of other authorities in his government.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta