Jakarta – Controversy over recent comments by President Abdurrahman Wahid that certain political figures stirring trouble to destabilise his presidency will be detained has rounded off today with some denials, some confirmations and yet more fodder for denials and confirmations. First the denials, mainly from the President himself who has rebuked suggestions that the police will detain persons suspected of funding and aiding conflict in the regions and Jakarta before the deadline he set for 15 July.
"Who said that [the House of Representatives/ Peoples' Consultative Assembly] was the trouble maker? I never said that, don't twist it around. I said, I know who the troublemakers are, [they're] people who at this moment are being investigated," he explained to a slightly bamboozled press. "In fact they'll be called by the law not as suspects but as witnesses, people like to twist these things around," he added.
Police General Information Division Chief, Senior Superintendent Col. Salef Saaf, also denied that the police would be held to the July 15 deadline. Though he did admit they have received a list of 40 names from the President of persons to be investigated for their involvement in corruption and human rights abuse cases. "If there are difficulties, we will extend the date. But the police will not be dumbstruck by the deadline," he told reporters today.
The police and authorities broke their tight-lipped stance this afternoon on the investigations which have indeed been instigated at the direct behest of the President. "In regards to the list of 40 names conveyed by the President, yes the police have already received the list," Saleh stated at Police headquarters.
Saleh added that, "So far, the police have taken further action in so far as proving the truth so that the proof may be acceptable before the court. In essence, the police are endeavoring to work professionally." He declined to give names but stated that, "If there is proof, even ghosts will be detained."
The Attorney General has also backtracked on early comments. Yesterday, Marzuki Darusman told Detik that reports on the President's "list' were just media speculation. Today, however, when presented with a leaked list of names of high profile figures who will face questioning in regards to the new investigations, he didn't confirm the names but said "Iya ... among others."
According to the source at the Attorney General's office, as many as 16 prominent figures will be summoned in relation to corruption, collusion and nepotism cases under former President Suharto, human rights abuses in Aceh and East Timor and the 27 July 1996 raid on the offices of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
The source stated that Fuad Bawazier, Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Adi Sasono and Bustanil Arifin who were listed in the Gatra article, which began the speculation, were indeed to be called. The source also mentioned others who will face the Attorney general's investigating team: Bambang Trihatmodjo, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (Suharto's oldest son and oldest daughter respectively), Ade Komarudin, Hatta Rajasa, Setyo Novanto, Bob Hasan, Subiyakto Tjakrawerdaya, Siswono Yudohusodo, Prajogo Pangestu, Radius Prawiro, Ali Wardana and Indra Kartasasmita.
It was highly likely, according to the source, that Fuad Bawazier, Siswono Yudohusodo, Subiyakto Tjakrawerdaya, Prajogo Pangestu, Bob Hasan, Radius Prawiro, Bustanil Arifin, Ali Wardana and Indra Kartasasmita will be questioned over corruption linked to former President Suharto.
Setyo Novanto will reportedly be reinvestigated over the Bank Bali scandal and the two Suharto siblings questioned over the 27 July 1996 incident. Adi Sasono will reportedly be investigated over corruption regarding the transfer of some Rp 125 million to the Centre for Information and Development Studies (CIDES) which he headed.
The money was allegedly received from the Association of Indonesian Wood Panel Producers (Apkindo) headed by one of Suharto's closest cronies Bob Hasan, already detained during investigations into Apkindo. Ginandjar Kartasasmita, #2 on the "list" and the focus of great speculation for his role in promoting Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri as a suitable President should Wahid fall, will possibly be questioned over the violence in Aceh.
Meanwhile, it is still not clear if the President will appear before the House although a plenary session voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to call him to account for the sackings of two Ministers in April. The move against the President, many believe, has compelled him onto the attack in recent days.
Despite the fact that several political figures have stated that the President is to appear before the House on Thursday, Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simajuntak, told the press at the President's offices today that he has received no request to appear on that date or any other. Furthermore, if not specified, it may be possible for the President to send a representative, a move advocated by the President's supporters in recent days.
In other news confirming recent reports, the United Development Party (PPP) is set to present a petition to Speaker of the House and Chairman of Golkar (#8 on the Gatra list), Akbar Tanjung today. The petitioners are calling for a special parliamentary inquiry into the misuse of funds from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog). 120 House members have signed the petition, though only 10 are formally required, and support for the petition is set to grow.
The Buloggate scandal involving the theft of Rp35 billion (US$4.4 million) by the President's former masseuse has taken a toll on the President's credibility. However, this investigation seeks to go much further. On 27 June, Arie Sulendro of Indonesia's Finance and Development Audit Board (BPKP) said corruption ate up more than two trillion rupiah (US$ 230.41 million) of government funds in the first quarter of the year, with 213 billion rupiah (US$23.8 million) reported missing from Bulog.
Furthermore, the thorough investigation proposed may hurt the very people who have turned the Buloggate scandal it into such a big deal. Rusydi Hamka of the PPP acknowledged on Monday that the scandal might blemish the Golkar Party. "We ask that all of Bulog's nonbudgetary funds be revealed. We were told that it could blemish Golkar," Rusydi told the Jakarta Post. "But that's okay. We have nothing to lose."
The President too has nothing lose from proposing a similar inquiry into the funding of Golkar's campaign for the 1999 general elections and a "foundation" owned by party leader Akbar Tanjung. This is, thus far, mere press "speculation". Confirmations and denials will have to wait till tomorrow.
[Reporters Iin Yumianti, Titis Widyatmoko, D. Sangga Buwana/Lyndal Meehan]