Habibie Interview on CNBC Asia CNBC Asia will be airing an exclusive interview with Indonesian President Habibie this Tuesday, Jan 5. Hosted by Lynette Lithgow, it is entitled "A CNBC Asia Special : An hour with President Habibie". Topics covered during the interview include: - how he assesses his own performance since taking up office 8 months ago - his relationship with former President Suharto - the East Timor situation - the social problems gripping the country such as the rice shortage crisis and the religious intolerance against Christians and the Chinese community. Details of the show-times: First Airing - (replacing replay of Asia Market Wrap) Tuesday, 5th Jan @ 2100 - 2200 hrs (Sin/HK time) Tuesday, 5th Jan @ 1830 - 1930 hrs (IST) Weekend repeats - (replacing replay of Asia Market Wrap) Saturday, 9th Jan @ 0830 - 0930 hrs (Sin/HK time) *Taiwan gets first half only* Saturday, 9th Jan @ 0600 - 0700 hrs (IST) Weekend repeats - (replacing Smart Money and Asia This Week) Saturday, 9th Jan @ 1800 hrs - 1900 hrs (Sin/HK time) Weekend repeats - (replacing Over Asia and WSJ Report) Sunday, 10th Jan @ 1000 - 1100 hrs (Sin/HK time) Weekend repeats - (replacing Countdown to Euro and Smart Money) Sunday, 10th Jan @ 2000 - 2100 hrs (Sin/HK time) Sunday, 10th Jan @ 1730 - 1830 hrs (IST) January 5, 1999 Indonesia's Habibie: Military United As "Never Before" Dow Jones Newswires JAKARTA -- Indonesian President B.J. Habibie said the Indonesia armed forces are united "as never before," amid a reshuffle of the command structure that is expected to consolidate the control of military commander Wiranto. "ABRI (the Indonesian acronym for the military) is united today as never before," Habibie said in an interview with CNBC Asia to be broadcast Tuesday at 1300GMT. Wiranto has launched a reshuffle of his command structure that involves 100 officers, local media reported Tuesday. Officials said Wiranto's latest reshuffle was a routine change in tours of duty in the military, but those promoted are closely associated with the military commander. The military's reputation has been tarnished by a series of human rights abuses amid the recent nationwide unrest. For example, former Lieutenant General Prabowo, a son-in-law of former President Suharto, was considered a rival to Wiranto but was dismissed from the military after he was implicated in the kidnappings of pro-democracy activists in early 1998. He hasn't been charged and is now in Jordan. Habibie said that Prabowo must be brought to justice. Many critics allege that Prabowo played a role in masterminding the violent unrest that rocked the capital in last May, which eventually led to Suharto's resignation. The unrest largely targeted ethnic-Chinese businesses and communities, but Habibie stressed that Indonesia's Chinese community shouldn't feel unwelcome. "We have many ethnic groups and religious groups here," the president said, adding that he saw no reason ethnic Chinese citizens of Indonesia shouldn't feel at home. New economic policies pursued by the Habibie administration, including the redistribution of assets taken over by the government from troubled banks, have fueled concerns that government policies don't support Chinese interests. Critics claim that Cooperatives Minister Adi Sasono is pursuing a policy to expropriate the wealth held by the Chinese conglomerates into the hands of ethnic-Indonesians. Habibie denied these allegations, and stressed that it won't happen. "There is no redistribution of assets done by him (Sasono) because the redistribution of assets that will have to be done, then it will be done by me," Habibie said. "And I will not instruct the minister of cooperative to do that." Habibie also denied talk that Sasono was leveling a challenge against him for the presidency, saying they were part of the same team. The president also said Sasono could make a suitable leader. "Adi Sasono is a fairly potential leader of this country. and he belongs to my team because I have asked him to be in my team," Habibie said. ********************* January 05 1999 09:26 AM PST Habibie says Suharto a "good man" SINGAPORE, Jan 5 (AFP) - Indonesian President B.J. Habibie believes his ousted predecessor Suharto is a "good man" but vowed not to interfere in the probe into the former ruler's wealth, according to a television interview. "I don't believe in anything except the value of my friend," Habibie, asked if Suharto might be guilty, told Singapore-based satellite broadcaster CNBC Asia in an interview to be aired late Tuesday. "Knowing him for 50 years, I'm convinced he is in this case a good man. He has always done and tried to do good things for people," said Habibie, the former vice president who took over when Suharto resigned in May. The 77-year-old Suharto, in power for 32 years, has been questioned by Indonesian prosecutors in connected with charges of amassing illicit wealth but has not been formally charged with any crime. Asked if Suharto will be brought to trial, Habibie replied: "It depends on the law. I'm not allowed and I'm not willing to interfere." On whether he had deserted Suharto, the 62-year-old Habibie, a German-trained engineer groomed by Suharto to succeed him, said "No, I called him on June 9," when Suharto turned 77. "I sent him flowers on the 8th, sent him flowers on the 9th, wished him many happy returns on his birthday ... and I asked him whether he allowed me to see him and he told me, no, it is not good for you, not good for this country and not good for me ..." Habibie said he had not met his former mentor since the former president resigned on May 21, and that Suharto told him "that we will see each other (when) everything has been solved." Excerpts of the interview were made available to AFP ahead of the broadcast. Last week, Habibie called for a quick end to the probe into allegations Suharto illegally amassed a fortune while in power. "It is hoped that the investigation into former president Suharto could be completed before the (June 7) general election," Information Minister Yunus Yosfiah quoted Habibie as saying. Attorney General Andi Ghalib, who heads the Suharto probe, said his office would try to meet the deadline, The controversial probe into Suharto's wealth has dragged on since June and come under fire from legal experts and pro-reformists who have accused Ghalib of deliberate foot-dragging.
