Who Dares Cut Off The Head of the Snake?

By Terry McCarthy/Jakarta

When a bomb went off in the basement of the Jakarta Stock Exchange last Wednesday, killing 15, few Indonesians had any doubt what group was behind it. It was the third bombing in as many months to hit just as former dictator SUHARTO and his family were scheduled to be questioned about corruption allegations. The dilemma facing President ABDURRAHMAN WAHID: how to deal with a powerful, well-connected family that will stop at nothing to protect itself. The next morning, a confidant of the President's urged that he "cut off the head of the snake"--meaning, take direct action against the Suharto clique. "We are getting closer," Wahid obliquely replied. Then, last Friday, he called for the arrest of Suharto's youngest son Tommy. The police questioned him Saturday but made no arrest, citing lack of evidence.

--By Terry McCarthy/Jakarta