Lopa testifies to meeting with the President

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Baharuddin Lopa confirmed on Thursday that President Abdurrahman Wahid met with him last year to discuss the legal aspects of two financial scandals that are allegedly linked to the President.

Lopa, also a former secretary-general of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas Ham), testified before the House of Representatives' special committee investigating the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and the Brunei financial scandals that the meeting was held in Oman in June 2000.

"At the meeting, the President conceded that he called Sapuan several times to Merdeka Palace in December 1999 over a plan to disburse a Rp 35 billion (US$3.6 million) fund from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) foundation," he said after the hearing with the House's special committee.

Sources on the special committee who requested anonymity said that Lopa told the committee that the President also asked for his advice over the trial of former president Soeharto and the "deal" between Soeharto's daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana and the Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Lopa said that at the meeting, he had also warned the President that he would have committed a crime if he knew about the planned disbursement of the funds but did nothing to prevent it.

"But, the President said that he knew nothing about the further disbursement of the funds," he said.

Asked whether the President was involved in the Bulog scandal or not, Lopa declined to comment.

"I just told Gus Dur that he would have committed a crime if he knew about the disbursement of the funds but did nothing to prevent it," he repeated.

Lopa said he had suggested that the special committee seek clarification from Abdurrahman because the President was a key witness in the scandals.

He also urged the special committee to seek clarification from Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to ascertain the true status of the US$2-million fund that he had given to the President.

"If the money from the Sultan was personal assistance, the problem is over," he said.

The special committee appreciated Lopa's testimony which was considered as important input for the conclusion of the investigation into the two scandals.

"Lopa's testimony is very important for the special committee. It strengthens the testimony given earlier by other witnesses," said legislator Alvin Lie, deputy chairman of the special committee.

The committee also questioned Teti Nursetiati, Soewondo's wife, on Thursday, but declined to reveal her testimony.

Meanwhile, outside the House building, more than 1,000 students and youths staged a demonstration, demanding that the special committee investigate the scandals thoroughly.

The anti-government protesters also called on the President to step down because of his alleged involvement in both scandals.

They were, however, denied access to the House because of tight security provided by hundreds of riot police from the Police Mobile Brigade.

A number of students, who were selected to represent the protesters at a meeting with the special committee, brought along with them a coffin symbolizing the death of the Abdurrahman administration. (rms)