Habibie's unholy war

With the presidential election only nine days away, President B.J. Habibie is under pressure to accomplish his national duties one by one. Yesterday, he dropped the curtain on a dramatic comedy show while demonstrating strong confidence concerning his future.

When the recommendation was announced that the corruption case against former president Soeharto be dropped due to a lack of evidence, he seemed so sure that the decision would not provoke public anger or affect his chances of reelection by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Oct. 20.

In the past, there were repeated noisy protests against the way his regime handled Soeharto's case, the investigation of which was based on the orders of the Assembly, the country's highest lawmaking body.

To many people, the announcement, which was made by acting Attorney General Ismujoko, might sound neither like a 100 megaton explosive nor a firecracker. It is just the end of a farce in which the law has been the object of mockery in the hands of a regime which has arrogantly thumbed its nose at the Assembly's orders.

It is public knowledge that the regime has been continually reluctant to probe the case, which, according to foreign observers, involves billions of U.S. dollars. For the sake of his treachery, Habibie, during his 16 months of rule, has replaced at least eight attorneys general.

One of them, Sudjono Atmonegoro, has repeatedly disclosed to the public that he was dismissed one day after he urged the President to bring Soeharto to justice because he found strong evidence to support allegations.

In February, the local newsmagazine, Panji Masyarakat, printed his purported conversation with then attorney general Andi Mohammad Ghalib, in which both played down the importance of a investigation into Soeharto. Later, Habibie reportedly told leaders of the Indonesian Ulemas Council that he would not try Soeharto for any wrongdoing.

Late last month, the deputy attorney general for criminal affairs, Ramelan, said there were no suspects after conducting hearings with several officials and other individuals in relation to the case.

A lack of political will on the part of the regime which has also limited the Attorney General's Office in its investigation into Soeharto has been limited to his foundations only, while the former tyrant has furtively or openly helped enrich his family and children at the cost of Indonesian citizens.

The public has long been aware of Habibie's farce but the President was successful in buying time up until yesterday's announcement. The regime's decision is an insult in itself and those who believe in it might need to have their heads examined.

Many circles have tried to seek a reason why the President was so defiant against the Assembly's orders to hold an investigation. Some said he was afraid that if Soeharto was brought to trial, the former despot would blow the cover of other corrupt practices, which include those taking place on the island of Batam where Habibie's relatives rule supreme.

Habibie's unholy war to defend corrupt practices is so arrogant that he is willing to risk his chances for reelection. Or is he afraid of his own filthy shadow and is planning to sacrifice everything for his former "political professor", as he used to call Soeharto.

Any possibility may be the reason. But one thing is true. His logic is very dangerous to this nation. By defying the Assembly's orders, he is not only showing this nation but also the whole world that in Indonesia, the higher the position of a corrupt official, the less implications there are for the crime of graft.

There have been a lot of examples of similar cases, and Habibie has now confirmed them.

It is now up to the Assembly to evaluate the President's statement of accountability, which will -- or perhaps will not -- include Soeharto's case.

Outspoken politician Amien Rais voiced a good idea last year when he said that Soeharto should stand trial, then return the illegally obtained money and in turn be given a presidential pardon.

Now that Amien has become Assembly speaker, this is the best opportunity to appeal to fellow lawmakers to reject the attorney general's decision to halt the investigation and issue a new order for the new president to start the investigation anew, and not only look into that which involved his foundations, but also both his official and furtive backing of family and cronies.