House committee to question VP over financial scandals

House committee to question VP over financial scandals

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives' special committee
investigating the Bulog and Brunei scandals, which allegedly
involves President Abdurrahman Wahid, intends to question Vice
President Megawati Soekarnoputri to seek clarification, committee
chairman Bachtiar Chamsyah said on Monday.

"There is an intention among members of the committee to
summon Megawati. She will be (treated) in the same way as other
witnesses," Bachtiar of the United Development Party (PPP) said.

He said Megawati would be questioned since she was mentioned
in the testimony of former National Police chief Gen.
Rusdihardjo.

He said Rusdihardjo, during his testimony before the
committee, also admitted to have handed over a police dossier on
the case to Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"So it should not be a problem (to question Megawati). It's
only to cross-check," he added.

Bachtiar said Megawati would most likely be questioned after
the questioning of the President and his former masseur Suwondo.

Committee members had said that the President would be
summoned on Jan. 17 while Suwondo would be questioned one day
before.

"So there's still enough time to summon (Megawati) and another
key witness," Bachtiar said without elaborating.

The committee is probing the possible involvement of
Abdurrahman in the withdrawal of Rp 35 billion belonging to a
State Logistics Agency (Bulog) foundation and the misuse of a
US$2 million donation from Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

Abdurrahman had earlier said that he deplored Rusdihardjo's
action of handing over the police dossiers on the case to
Megawati and the committee instead of to the prosecutors.

The President also charged that the committee was illegal
since it had not been registered in the State Gazette as required
by Law 6/1954 on House inquiries.

Meanwhile committee member Ali Masykur Musa supported
Bachtiar's statement saying that a clarification from the Vice
President was necessary.

"It's important as Megawati was mentioned in Rusdihardjo's
testimony. It will also help clarify the police dossier," Ali of
the National Awakening party (PKB) said.

Rally

Meanwhile groups of students some supporting and others
against the committee rallied at the House compound on Monday.

A group calling themselves the Indonesian Student Consortium
expressed support for the questioning of Megawati.

Their rally was joined by around a hundred students from the
Indonesian Youth Axis (PPI).

But another group of around 50 students from the University of
Indonesia (UI) asked the special committee to cease its
investigation as it raised the specter of conflict among the
people.

Muchlis Ali, PPI coordinator, said the special committee
should continue the investigation to show the people whether the
President was involved in the scandal.

"The special committee should not be influenced by suggestions
that its establishment was not valid. All sides should accept and
respect the law," he said.

Yanto, spokesman for the UI students, said the investigation
should be halted as it was part of a scheme initiated by certain
politicians since the August annual session of the People's
Consultative Assembly to topple the President.

"It will be better for the House to focus on major problems
the nation is facing instead of being trapped in a power struggle
between the executive body and the House," he said. (jun/rms)