Habibie's unholy war

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.