Terror to continue in crisis of confidence

Those investigating corruption cases should brace for continued harassment following last week's bomb blast at the Attorney General's Office. Teten Masduki, who coordinates the private Indonesian Corruption Watch, believes the crimes will not be the last.

Question: What crossed your mind when you heard of the blast at the Attorney General's Office?

Answer: Two possibilities: terror against the institution which is investigating the corruption case of former president Soeharto and his cronies. We know that the incident occurred after Tommy (Soeharto's youngest son) was being questioned. But Tommy would be too foolish to be involved in a bomb blast.

Second, it could be groups who are dissatisfied with the tardy performance of the office in investigating prominent cases of corruption involving former officials and business cronies of the Soeharto administration.

Q: Which is the stronger of the two possibilities?

A: The second one ... there has been no serious attempt from the institution, including to further investigate Soeharto. So far questions have been about the foundations (controlled by Soeharto) but they have not gone much further.

There are people out there who are disappointed with the situation, because the institution has also let some figures from the old regime go free. We must note that such disappointments may come from both the government or the military as there are some investigations which have either showed no progress or have ended.

Q: Do you see any other possibilities?

A: No. It's just like my experience, I am always threatened both from the parties who want ICW to be more serious and from those we've charged with corruption.

Q: Do you think that the threats will continue?

A: Yes. This is about a crisis of confidence. Many people have been set on fire and murdered after being caught in trivial crimes. This shows a frustrated society because we don't have a good legal system. If at the lower level people can burn a pickpocket, at the higher level, the elite can also do something to express their disappointment.

Q: What can the Attorney General's Office do?

A: The institution must treat everyone equally before the law. This includes bringing powerful but corrupt people to court. People just want to see that this can happen.

Q: Do you think it will be capable of doing so?

A: No. The institution is a product of the old regime. Most people at the office started their career during the peak of the corruption era. They are still part of the corruption syndicate and the court mafia. If they really take the case to court, it means they will have to bring themselves to trial.

I think this is impossible even though the attorney general is a new person. I know they don't have the guts to go any further. The institution has not been serious so far: investigations into the (corruption) cases of Texmaco (textile group), (Bank) BRI, the Clove Marketing and Buffer Stock Agency, the state-run social security funds and Timor (national car program) have ended.

The Attorney General's Office and the courts must be totally revamped. It's no use when a corruption case is taken to court but then the judge is from the old regime. It would be unfair.

Q: So you would agree with those who say that quite a long time is needed to investigate corruption cases?

A: No. It would be easy if the government under President Abdurrahman Wahid had the courage to clean up the Attorney General's Office. This should be followed up on. It would satisfy many people.

Q: What can we hope for now if investigations into corruption cases are under real threat such as last week's blast?

A: The police must be very careful and alert. Improve security and continue investigating. For any reason, the blast is unacceptable. It can spark other forms of terrorism.

Q: Do you think the police can do their job?

A: Yes. So far they have indicated the origin of the bomb. If it's true it was produced by (state-run arms producer) Pindad, the police have an easier job ahead of them, especially with the President's instruction. (I. Christianto)