Terror to continue in crisis of confidence

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)