House probe into two scandals 'illegal'

House probe into two scandals 'illegal'

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid struck back at the House of Representatives (DPR) on Friday saying that its probes into two financial scandals allegedly linked to him were "illegal".

"DPR has formed illegal special committees," Abdurrahman said after Friday prayers at the State Audit Agency's Baitul Hasib mosque near the House complex.

He said none of the special commissions formed by the House were registered at the state secretariat as required by a 1954 law, which stipulates that such committees should be listed in state gazettes.

A special House commission is seeking to question Abdurrahman about the fraudulent withdrawal of Rp 35 billion (US$ 3.9) from the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) by his masseur, and about the disposition of US$ 2 million donated by the Sultan of Brunei that the President claimed was a personal gift.

Abdurrahman stated earlier that he would not appear at the House to explain the two cases. Allegations that he was implicated in the scandals have been seized on by his critics in the House to step up calls for his resignation.

The President's remarks immediately aroused heated reactions from House members, lawyers and political analysts.

Some said that the President's remarks were "unwise" and "illogical". Others said Gus Dur, as the President is often called, was in a panic and the remarks were a defensive maneuver.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung questioned the motive of the President to make such a statement.

"Why did he question the legality of the committee now. Why did he not question its legality when the committee was first established," Akbar, also chairman of Golkar party, said.

He said the substance of the committees was more important than the question of the legality of the committees as required by Law No. 6/1954 on inquiry rights.

"But we will look at the law," Akbar added.

Chairman of the committee probing the scandals, Bachtiar Chamsyah, insisted that the establishment of the committee was legal since it was set up by the House's plenary session.

"The President's statement was not wise. It's illogical," Bachtiar of the United Development Party (PPP), said.

Chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) Hendardi said that the President was just attempting to defend himself.

"Gus Dur's statement was just a defensive maneuver against being persistently hounded by politicians in the House," he said as quoted by Antara.

Chairman of the Board of the Center for Information and Development Studies (CIDES) Indria Samego said that Gus Dur's statement was his way to avoid something by making use of legal factors.

"This is just part of Gus Dur's misdirection," he said.

A member of the committee, Julius Usman, believed that the President was actually in a panic due to the growing reports alleging he is linked to the scandals.

"If the committee is illegal, then the House is illegal. If that is so, then the President is illegal, too," Julius said.

President Abdurrahman also claimed that investigations into the scandals had led "two foreign statesmen," whom he did not name, to believe his days were numbered.

"Because of that, Indonesia's relations with other countries are strained," he said.

Abdurrahman lashed out last week at Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew after the elder statesman allegedly said that Abdurrahman's term in office would soon end.

But a Singapore foreign ministry spokesman denied in a statement on Wednesday that Lee had ever publicly criticized Abdurrahman or said the days of his government were numbered.

In apparent reference to former National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo, Abdurrahman also lashed out on Friday at "a police officer" who had testified before the House special committee earlier this week.

"This police officer has handed over documents (on the Bulog scandal) to the House ... this is a breach of the law because the documents should only be given to the Attorney General's Office ... to be then submitted to the court," Abdurrahman said.

Press reports said that Rusdihardjo revealed information before the House special committee implicating Gus Dur in the scandal. (byg/jun/bby/01)