Indonesia seeks U.S. help with investigations

Indonesia seeks U.S. help with investigations

By Budiman Moerdijat

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid says he
plans to ask the American anticorruption body to assist with
investigations into the wealth of former top Indonesian officials
during a probable meeting with United States President Bill
Clinton.

Speaking to journalists on a flight from Salt Lake City, Utah,
the President said on Saturday (local time) that this was one of
the subjects he would like to bring up if a meeting with Clinton
was possible to arrange.

"One of the topics is our desire to ask approval from the U.S.
government to allow its research agency on corruption to disclose
the personal finance of our former state officials, which we
can't investigate ourselves so we'll seek assistance from
others," Abdurrahman remarked.

There is still no confirmation yet on the meeting with
Clinton.

Indonesian foreign minister Alwi Shihab said on Friday there
were indications that Clinton wanted to meet with Abdurrahman,
who is on a four-day visit to the United States.

If the meeting does take place, it is expected to take place
in Washington.

The Indonesian Attorney General's Office is currently
conducting an investigation into the alleged abuse of power by
former president Soeharto which reportedly allowed certain people
to amass wealth by the issuance of various rulings.

Abdurrahman also affirmed on Saturday that the information
obtained from the research agency would be used as evidence to
bring former state officials to court.

"They (U.S. government) have sufficient information about
this ... And if they are found guilty (by a court), then the
former president, vice president and military chief will be
pardoned," he remarked.

Attorney General Marzuki Darusman has also appealed to the
Swiss government to help Indonesian authorities investigate
former president Soeharto's alleged wealth, some of which could
be hidden in that country.

Marzuki also disclosed that the government was awaiting
reports from Indonesian embassies on foreign assets owned by the
former first family.

On Sunday (local time), the President is scheduled to arrive
in Baltimore for a medical checkup.

Earlier in Salt Lake City, the President went to John A. Moran
Eye Clinic to check his ailing vision. Doctors were optimistic,
saying the condition of his right eye had improved.

But they also acknowledged that his vision was not likely to
fully recover.

The presidential schedule initially included a meeting with
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York on
Tuesday.

But officials in the presidential entourage on Saturday were
busy reworking the schedule to anticipate the possibility of
departing for Syria to attend the funeral service of President
Hafiz Assad.