Soeripto to clarify Gus Dur's charges

JAKARTA (JP): Secretary-general of the Ministry of Forestry Soeripto is to meet with National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro in the next few days to clarify accusations made against him by President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

"My client needs to speak with the National Police chief to ascertain if Gus Dur has any proof whatsoever to back his accusations against my client," lawyer Masiga Bugis told reporters at the National Police Headquarters on Thursday.

Soeripto was scheduled to meet Bimantoro on Thursday, but the latter had to attend a ceremony at the Sea and Air Police Corps.

"It is, of course, up to my client, but if Gus Dur's accusations are groundless ... legal action is an option we are considering," Masiga said.

Nurmahmudi Ismail was dismissed as minister of forestry on March 16 and replaced by Marzuki Usman for refusing a presidential order to replace Soeripto, who was accused by Gus Dur of plotting to oust him.

"I refused because (the order for) the dismissal was based on unproven allegations against Pak Soeripto," Nurmahmudi told a news conference earlier.

Abdurrahman told Nurmahmudi that he had been informed by "very reliable and honest sources" that Soeripto had met with Maj. Gen. Muchdi Purwopranjono, former chief of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus), at Kempinski Hotel in Central Jakarta, to plot the President's downfall.

Soeripto, who was present at Nurmahmudi's news conference, admitted earlier that he had met with Muchdi several times, but that the meetings with the two-star general were "only business talks regarding forest concessions".

Masiga said on Thursday that Gus Dur had accused his client of meeting with Muchdi to discuss matters on funding anti-Gus Dur demonstrations and working with the Indonesian Military (TNI) to smuggle Indonesian wood out of the country.

Muchdi has been assigned to a desk job by the Army for his alleged involvement in the abduction of student activists in the final months of former president Soeharto's rule.

Soeripto, Nurmahmudi added earlier, was also accused by Abdurrahman of facilitating the escape of fugitive Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra -- the youngest son of former president Soeharto -- by using the ministry's helicopter.

Tommy has been on the run since last November following a Supreme Court verdict in September sentencing him to 18 months in prison for corruption.

Masiga said on Thursday that his client had also been linked by Gus Dur to the riots in Sampit and Ambon.

"We demand Gus Dur provide solid proof that my client was involved in whatever he has been accused of, or clear his name in public," Masiga said.

Coincidentally, Masiga also represents Elize Maria Tuwahatu. Arrested for the possession of three bombs at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah recreation park in East Jakarta on Jan. 19, Elize had made headlines when she told police that it was Tommy who gave her the bombs. (ylt)