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