Indonesian President Yudhoyono accused of corruption in Wikileaks' documents

[News_Editor]

Indonesian President Yudhoyono accused of corruption in Wikileaks' documents

2011-03-11 20:35:33 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday was accused of abusing power and influencing judges, according to leaked cables obtained on Wikileaks and published on Australian media.

The reports published were published Friday in Australia's The Age and Sydney Morning Herald and were based on Wikileaks' sources of diplomatic notes sent by the U.S. Embassy to Washington, D.C.

According to the reports, Yudhoyono abused power by influencing judges and prosecutors to protect corrupt but allied politicians, as well as spying on political rivals with the use of state intelligence. In addition, First Lady Ani Yudhoyono was accused of helping her close family members gain wealth through political connections.

Indonesian officials, including Foreign Affairs Minister Natalegawa, called on the U.S. Government to clarify the content of the leaked diplomatic cables, which they considered 'raw' and without confirmed validity.

The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta went on to regret the leaked cables, but it stated that the U.S. Department of State does not comment on materials, including classified documents, which may have been leaked. 

"However, as the Secretary of State has said, the United States deeply regrets the disclosure of any information that was intended to be confidential, including private discussions between counterparts or our diplomats’ personal assessments and observations," the Embassy said, adding that their official foreign policy is not set through these messages, but in Washington.

The Embassy's statement continued by condemning the unauthorized disclosure of classified information by Wikileaks, saying they have "harmful implications for the lives of identified individuals that are jeopardized, but also for global engagement among and between nations." 

"While we cannot speak to the authenticity of any documents provided to the press, we can speak to the diplomatic community's practice of cable writing," the statement continued.

"By its very nature, field reporting to Washington is candid and often raw information. It is preliminary, often incomplete and unsubstantiated. It is not an expression of policy, nor does it always shape final policy decisions. These documents should not be seen as having standing on their own or as representing U.S. policy."

Meanwhile, Indonesia's Defense Forces said they would immediately analyze and verify the leaked information, while Admiral Agus Suhartono denied denied the reports which accused President Yudhoyono of using military intelligence to spy on his political opponents.

Indonesian Secretary of State Sudi Silahlahi, who was seen walking Friday morning with Yudhoyono, called the accusations untrue, describing them as foreign attacks.

Furthermore, special presidential aide Daniel Sparringa said both Australian papers were irresponsible and careless by publishing news from unvalidated sources.

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