No political motive behind Syamsu's replacement: Ghalib

JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General A.M. Ghalib dismissed suggestions on Wednesday that political motives were behind the abrupt replacement of his deputy in charge of intelligence affairs, Maj. Gen. Syamsu Djalal.

Syamsu was involved in the investigation into allegations of corruption involving former president Soeharto and his family.

"No, there's no political motive. Please, do not speculate about the replacement which is a normal procedure; (it) has nothing to do with politics," Ghalib said after the ceremony in which Syamsu handed over his post to Lt. Gen. Yusuf Kertanagara.

Yusuf is the outgoing inspector general at the Armed Forces Headquarters.

About 100 journalists bombarded Ghalib with questions regarding Syamsu's link to the investigation into Soeharto, his family and cronies.

"I'm sorry. This replacement has nothing to do with the Soeharto case," Ghalib said.

Asked to evaluate Syamsu's performance during his mere five months in office, Ghalib said that "his presence enlivened the intelligence affairs department".

Syamsu, also former chief of the Armed Forces' Military Police, replaced Hadi Baroto as assistant to the Attorney General for intelligence affairs last October.

As soon as Ghalib confirmed the replacement earlier this week, speculation arose that Syamsu was removed from the post because of his differences with Ghalib regarding the Soeharto probe.

Syamsu denied the speculation and said the replacement was in fact a blessing in disguise.

"As a soldier I'm loyal to my superiors. I will (issue) a report concerning the replacement to the ABRI leadership after this ceremony," he said hours before the job transfer ceremony.

Syamsu, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 55 last December, made light about his future plans.

"There are still many things to do after... Just kidding, I'll become a pengacara (lawyer), that is (short for) a penganggur banyak acara (unemployed person with many things to do)."

Following the ceremony, dozens of photographers deposited their cameras and equipment in front of Ghalib's office to protest their prohibited presence at the ceremony.

Concurrently, hundreds of youths grouped in the Antianarchism Youth Association (AMAR) and Antirevolution Students Front staged a pro-Soeharto demonstration near the Attorney General's Office.

They demanded the office immediately announce results of its investigation into Soeharto's wealth to prevent manipulation by certain parties in the political elite.

"According to us, the Attorney General's Office should not investigate Soeharto on account of his long dedication and contribution to the nation," AMAR chairman B. Sayadi said.

Inconsistent claims among the demonstrators, however, were conspicuous. Some held posters that read "Don't condemn Soeharto", while others yelled: "Hang Soeharto!"

The protesters, whose representatives were received by prosecutor Sudibyo Saleh for a dialog at the Attorney General's Office, admitted they were paid Rp 15,000 (less than US$2) each to join the demonstration. They declined to reveal the name of the party who paid them.

Corruption

Syamsu also said an inquiry into the alleged corruption at the Timor national car project involving PT Timor Putra National -- a company controlled by Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra -- could now be formalized and suspects detained. The same treatment should also be accorded an inquiry into seven charitable foundations founded and chaired by Soeharto, he said.

"The allegations of corruption, collusion and nepotism in the (national car) project and the seven foundations chaired by Soeharto could be raised to formal investigations."

He said he proposed the move to Ghalib but did not receive an encouraging response. He insisted there were no differences with Ghalib.

Separately on Wednesday in the North Sumatra capital of Medan, legislator Bachtiar Chamzah of the United Development Party (PPP), said his House faction planned to ask Ghalib for an account of the investigation into Soeharto's 32-year New Order regime.

"We want to know any progress made by Ghalib in handling the investigation because we consider the Attorney General's Office to have been dragging its feet," he said in a party meeting.

Bachtiar also said his faction would first invite organizations such as the Indonesian Transparency Society, Indonesian Corruption Watch and another corruption watchdog known as Gempita for information-exchange sessions.

"When the attorney general responds to our invitation, he should be ready to answer our questions about cases of corruption." (rms/21)