Soeharto probe team offer has few takers

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie has delayed announcing the line up of a special commission to investigate the wealth of his predecessor Soeharto amid reports that several public figures have turned down the offer of positions on the team.

Meanwhile, Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung disclosed on Monday that the commission, which will be announced "in the next few days", will have its power curtailed to gathering information and making recommendations.

He played down reports that a number of noted public figures had refused to join the team.

"The number of those who have accepted the offer is higher than those who rejected it," he said after attending a five-hour meeting with the President at Merdeka Palace.

Former finance minister Mar'ie Muhammad and respected Moslem scholar Nurcholish Madjid were among those who turned the offer down when approached by the government.

Mar'ie said he was too busy.

Nurcholish originally said he did not feel qualified for the job, but when pressed further by journalists, admitted on Monday that he had some misgivings about the commission's potential given that Habibie's government itself lacked legitimacy.

"President Habibie needs to make a 'mental switch' away from the New Order regime mentality. Although his government is only a transitional one, it does not mean that it cannot carry out its duty," Nurcholish said. Habibie was originally expected to announce the team on Monday.

At its special session last month, the People's Consultative Assembly issued a decree calling on the government to investigate the wealth of Soeharto and other former and current government officials, their families and business associates because of widespread allegations of corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Akbar maintained that the commission would be independent, but admitted that its authority would be limited to gathering data and giving advice to the President.

The commission will not be able to directly investigate Soeharto's bank accounts, for example, because only government institutions have the necessary authority.

"Their findings and recommendations must be conveyed to the President," Akbar said, adding that the commission would have three months to complete its task.

Akbar dismissed the threat made by Soeharto's lawyer Yohanes Yacob, who said that the former president would drag down Habibie and other incumbent officials if the government pursued the investigation.

"In what capacity was he speaking?" Akbar asked about the lawyer's weekend statement, which was released to the press. (prb/edt)