PDIP TO PROPOSE INQUIRY INTO BANK CENTURY CASE

Jakarta, Nov. 7 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction at the House of Representatives (DPR) is sponsoring an initiative for a House inquiry into the Bank Century bail out case next week.

Some 56 legislators from six party factions in the House had already signed a document calling for the use of the House's inquiry right on the problematic Bank Century case, according to PDIP faction member Gayus Lumbuun here on Saturday.

"We hope the number of signatories will increase until the day of the next meeting of the DPR's Consultative Body (Bamus)," said Gayus Lumbuun who is also chairman of the DPR's Ethics Council.

The 56 MPs who had signed the inquiry proposal document were represented Gerindra, Hanura, United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB), Golkar, and PDIP, he said.

None of the members of PAN (National Mandate Party), PKS (Prosperous Justice Party) and PD (Democratic Party) had so far signed the document, he said.

Maruarar Sirait, also a legislator of the PDIP faction, said the proposal would be put forward at the upcoming meeting of Bamus and also be conveyed to the DPR leadership.

"I am optimistic that the proposal on the inquiry into Bank Century case will get a lot of support from MPs although their factions might not support it, because it is meant to reveal the thruth," Sirait said.

He said his party had taken a firm stance on the alleged flow of state funds amounting to Rp6.7 trillion to bail out private Bank Century.

The firm stance was taken based on a preliminary report from the State Audit Board (BPK) saying that there were indications of criminal acts in the government bailout funds flow into Bank Century.

The BPK report contained the initial results of an investigative audit the board had conducted on the Bank Century bailout at the House's request.