NU urge Megawati to arrest big corruptors

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Amid rising public apprehension over various perceived injustices, a leading Muslim leader urged President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Thursday to take drastic measures to arrest big- time corruptors and confiscate their wealth to satisfy the public's sense of justice.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with the President, Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said that the simultaneous utility price hikes had wounded the public's sense of justice as, at the same time, the government planned to exonerate large debtors from possible criminal charges.

"The government took into account only economic considerations but forgot the noneconomic factor -- the public's sense of justice.

"Economically, the government has considered that these utility price hikes are necessary .... On the other hand, it is letting the corruptors get away without punishment.

"In this case, the government must be tough in arresting corruptors and taking the (corrupted) money back. Don't raise prices here while letting leakages continue unplugged in other places," Hasyim told reporters after a one-hour meeting with Megawati.

The meeting was the first since Megawati became president in July 2001.

Megawati's government has been under attack for its policy of raising fuel prices, telephone and electricity rates effective this month and for its release and discharge policy, which frees a number of the country's largest debtors from possible criminal charges.

Hasyim also suggested that the government reschedule the utility price hikes.

"It's now up to the President. All we can do now is just wait and see," he said.

When asked about Megawati's response to his suggestion, Hasyim said that Megawati only gave a short answer: "God willing, I will think about it."

A number of experts gave support on Thursday to Hasyim's calls for the government to take drastic measures to restore the public's sense of justice.

Economist Didik J. Rachbini also urged the government to seize the assets of bad debtors who owed trillions of rupiah to the government.

"If the government wishes to cover its state budget deficit, it must force the former bank owners to meet their obligations to pay all their debts, and not raise utility prices, which will place a greater burden on the already weakened people," Didik said.

Former bank owners received some Rp 114.5 trillion (US$12.7 billion) in liquidity loans from the government following the 1997 economic crisis, to avoid the bankruptcy of the ailing banks. Only a portion of this money has ever been returned.

Didik said, as an example, that the Salim group, which owed some Rp 52.7 trillion to the government, had repaid only about Rp 20 trillion and yet the government wanted to grant release and discharge status.

"Of course this will hurt the public's sense of justice; it will make people angry with the government," he said.

For this reason, Didik said, it would only be logical for the government to cancel its release and discharge policy.

Meanwhile, Imam B. Prasodjo, a sociologist at the University of Indonesia, called on the government to boost law enforcement by sending high-ranking officials or influential figures convicted of corruption or human rights violations to jail.

A number of high-ranking officials still enjoy freedom, pending their appeal decisions. They include House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, former East Timor governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, former Dili Military commander Lt. Col. Soedjarwo and former East Timor paramilitary leader Eurico Gutterres.

Another important thing that the government needed to do, according to Imam, was to stop high-ranking officials or their spouses from holding lavish parties, such as that thrown by Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas in celebration of his 60th birthday in Bali on the last day of 2002.

Such drastic measures, Imam and Didik said, were needed to help reduce public disappointment over the various injustices and the recent utility price increases.

"People will continue to oppose the prices hikes and other government policies if the government fails to assuage public disappointment," Imam told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.