Justice has yet to prevail

Justice has yet to prevail

Much is now being written about the alleged National Logistics
Agency (Bulog) misappropriation that took place under former
president Habibie's watch as opposed to the alleged
misappropriation that took place under former president
Abdurrahman Wahid's watch.

It seems that Akbar Tandjung can't remember back to 1999, but
Habibie can. Their story, if true, would have been very good
reading back in March 1999, when people in Indonesia were looking
for a sign from the government that something was being done to
ease their plight.

When plots are conceived to steal money, their designs are
whispered in the dark. However, when politicians perform an act
of statesmanship, charity, or a simple act of competent
governance, they are the first to seek recognition through the
media. At the moment, there seems to be no question about the
category in which the Bulog scandals belong.

However, to expect the legislature or Attorney General's
Office to actually find some notable person responsible and
administer justice appears to be beyond reason. After all, it has
been more than 3.5 years since former president Soeharto resigned
from office and the only person I am aware of in the years since
to have been found guilty of a criminal offense within the
government and actually serve time for it was the unfortunate
clerk that stole several expensive fountain pens from then
president Habibie.

It seems that the problem with real justice in Indonesia is
that the investigators, legislative committeemen and justices
will ultimately all be peers of the accused. If this is the case,
then it will require several generations of reform before the
Indonesian people can expect to see real justice.

RONALD P.

Jakarta