Soeharto's explanation

Soeharto's attestation that he never amassed any wealth during his years as president surely surprised no one. He used the largest part of his 30-minute account on a television network owned by (his eldest daughter) Tutut to explain why he set up his various foundations. He related how he had done so to help the widows and orphaned children of soldiers who had died for their country; to assist the needy so they could send their children to school; to build hospitals to provide cheap medical care for the poor, etcetera, etcetera.

Soeharto, in fact, was so good at explaining his motives that many people could well have been impressed by his charitable intentions in setting up those foundations. Only a week ago, however, Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib said investigations indicated that funds belonging to those foundations were misused. In other words, it was believed that public money -- it should not be forgotten that these foundations collected money from the public -- had been manipulated under the names of those foundations. This was one point Soeharto never mentioned.

What people have been demanding so far should be clear enough: Soeharto must take responsibility for having misused his powers, for his own and his family's benefit. And the foundations were not the only means by which those manipulations were conducted. There were other means as well, which is another point the authorities must investigate without delay. One other thing must be set straight: people are demanding that it is not only Soeharto who must be held responsible but his family as well.

Soeharto's televised explanation on Monday only served to confine the problem. He was trying to narrow down the focus of the investigations to the irregularities committed. He was trying to make it appear as if the accusations of wealth accumulation are restricted to only himself and do not include his family and cronies. He was trying to create the impression that the accusations concern only the foundations under his control.

This is the problem the government must solve. Investigations must include not only Soeharto but his family and cronies as well. We are racing against time. Every second that passes provides them with the opportunity to erase their tracks. Let us not allow the tracks that are still clear now to become obscure.

-- Republika, Jakarta