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