Letter: Explaining Tommy's victories

It is interesting to ponder what is the most likely explanation for Tommy Soeharto's string of recent legal victories in the Indonesian courts, the latest of which was reported in The Jakarta Post, (Feb. 12, p.1).

Three possible explanations for Tommy Soeharto's stellar legal performance immediately suggest themselves to this writer.

First, perhaps Tommy Soeharto really is an ethical, honest and law- abiding businessman who has been unfairly maligned by the Indonesian press over a long period and is now, at last, simply being vindicated by the courts - justice delivered.

Second, it could be that the Attorney General's Office is unable or unwilling (for reasons unknown) to devote the resources needed to prepare and prosecute a compelling court case against Tommy Soeharto - justice denied. Third, maybe it is just another indication that the much-talked about "court mafia" really is hard at work in Indonesia - justice derailed.

This last explanation, however, seems absolutely preposterous and untenable to the writer given that, as reported by The Post, Indonesia's newly appointed chief justice has only in this past week refused to acknowledge the existence of anything so unsavory as a "court mafia" in Indonesia.

William A. Sullivan
Jakarta