The law vs. the public

The law vs. the public

Good luck is once again siding with Tommy (Soeharto). The Supreme Court yesterday (Monday) granted him a judicial review in the Goro corruption case, which in November last year provided the court with a reason to penalize him with an 18-month jail term. What this means is that as of that moment Tommy is a free person once again.

Of course, this is true only as the Goro case is concerned. What about other outstanding cases? Those still have to be proven in court. The Supreme Court's decision in Tommy's favor lays bare an old problem -- that of the conflict between public sentiment and legal reasoning. Regarding this controversy, though, we are agreed to let the law be the judge.

The law is letting Tommy win. For his part, however, Tommy must satisfy the public. How? By stop to hide and account to the public for all the accusations that have been made against him.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta