Soedomo's wealth

Soedomo's wealth

I have in front of me a "hot" weekly called Jakarta Jakarta,
No. 497 dated Jan. 13-19, 1996. This magazine offers hot gossip
as well as articles on film stars and other topics which attract
the attention of the young at heart.

I was surprised when I read an article on the ex-wife of Pak
Soedomo, Mrs. Fransisca Diah Widowati, who recently married a
handsome young Indonesian/Australian, Martin Silitonga, twelve
years her junior in age.

It reminds me of Elizabeth Taylor who married a truck driver
far younger than herself, but probably possesses "extraordinary"
power to satisfy her physical needs.

What stunned me was the report about her wealth and more
surprising that she received some of Pak Soedomo's wealth (gono
gini in Javanese) of 20 billion rupiah after the divorce. Pak
Domo should react to this, especially now when the community is
demanding a clean government. The report that Pak Domo has
accumulated 20 billion is fantastic and in my opinion impossible.
Being a "national figure" and chairman of the prestigious Supreme
Advisory Council he should ask Jakarta Jakarta for proof and to
clear his good name.

Even if his monthly expenses were small, he could not have
accumulated a wealth of 20 billion rupiah in such a short time.
As far as I know Pak Domo lives from his salary and has never
engaged in business.

As a good friend of Pak Domo, I strongly suggest that he react
and declare his wealth accurately and honestly, without referring
to Presidential decree No. 52/1970, so that the community will
know exactly how rich or poor he is.

If Pak Siswono, Pak Soesilo Soedarman or Pak Sarwono have
expressed publicly their readiness to declare their wealth, why
shouldn't Pak Domo do the same. This is a matter of the public
being able to remain confidence in its national leaders. I hope
Pak Domo will read this and set things right.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta