Chairman: Democratic Party has no part in Century scandal

Anas Urbaningrum, chairman of the Democratic Party faction at the House of Representatives, deems that the accusations that his party benefitted from the scandalous Bank Century bail-out are "cruel".

"We are going to sue anyone who says that the Democratic Party received bail-out funds. We are completely sure that we are clean," he told reporters at the House in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Speculations are rife in the media and the public that the Democratic Party's earlier reluctance to support the establishment of the Bank Century inquiry committee might have some connection with a number of the party elite's involvement with the bail-out fund.

The Democratic Party argued that their reluctance was based on their respect for the work of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) in auditing the bail-out. As soon as the BPK's finding showed that there were many irregularities in the bail-out, the Democratic Party then finally decided to support it.

However, the Democratic Party still is the target of many suspicions from other parties, especially those outside its coalition bloc, because it also wanted to be given the committee chairman post, despite the fact that it was the last party to support the committee.

Many suspect that the Democratic Party is making another effort to weaken the committee after its previous effort to prevent its establishment has failed.

Anas, however, said that he has no problem at all should his party not get the chairman post.

Separately, Bambang Soesatyo from the Golkar Party, said that a strong leadership was essential to reveal the final individuals benefiting from the bail-out, which was authorized by the former Bank Indonesia governor, Boediono [now Vice President], and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani.

"Sri Mulyani and Boediono are not stupid. They must have received some heavy pressure from the final individuals benefiting from the bail-out. There are speculations to a certain political party, to a certain family, all of these flown into the heart of the political power," he said.