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.