The revolution fund issue

The revolution fund issue

The old issue of a "revolution fund" has surfaced again, as
soon as (former foreign minister) Soebandrio was granted a pardon
by President Soeharto. Everyone -- including people who know and
those who only want to know -- is joining the debate. Strangely,
however, all the talk has yielded nothing. At the very least the
question of the amount involved remains a mystery.

According to stories, whose veracities are obscure, this
revolution fund is being kept in a number of European banks. The
money cannot be cashed without the signature of either
Soebandrio, or (the late president) Sukarno. Rumors about the
fund's amount vary. Some people say hundreds of billions of
rupiah are involved. Others mention figures into the hundreds of
trillions, interest included.

For those who have never heard of the existence of a
revolution fund, all this excitement over a possible treasure
hunt sounds like an incredible tale. People are asking themselves
whether it really exists or whether it is merely one of those
sensational fables that are produced from time to time to divert
the people's attention.

If such a fund does, in fact, exists, Soebandrio should have
the generosity to make it possible to cash it in for the benefit
of many. And if it exists but international banking procedures
are in the way of cashing it in, the government must do all that
is in its power to acquire the money.

Clarity about this revolution fund must be obtained now. The
present public debate must be cleared up with an explanation
whether such a fund in fact exists.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta