In the first week of May, Nigeria's military ruler, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, signed a new constitution into law. But there was one problem: the provisions of the new constitution were secret. No one had seen a draft of it--not even Nigeria's new president-elect, Olusegun Obasanjo. Gen. Abubakar called it a "fine document" and said that it was based on the last functional constitution written in 1979, but refused to make the document public. He claims, however, that it will be made public before it takes effect, presumably at the same time the new president takes office on May 29th. In the meantime, politicians and human rights groups have accused the Nigerian military junta of plundering money from the government treasury, including $1.6 billion that has disappeared under the label of "defense spending." This is nothing new for Nigeria, which has seen 16 years of rule by military decree, and witnessed corruption under the military dictatorships of Sani Abacha (who died of heart failure last June) and his predecessor, Ibrahim Babangida. But the rate at which the money is currently disappearing is staggering. As one incoming official of the new civilian administration said: "I don't think we've seen looting on this scale, at this speed, in Nigeria's history." What's not surprising is that western newspapers and pundits have hailed Gen. Abubakar as the father of Nigerian democracy. Even Jesse Jackson traveled to Nigeria last year, shook hands with the junta leader, and babbled about a new dawn for democracy in Nigeria.--Maria Tomchick. Sources: "Nigerians left in dark over new constitution," Manchester Guardian Weekly, 5/16/99, and "Military empties coffers as end of rule nears," Manchester Guardian Weekly, 5/23/99.

Next week Indonesians will vote on a new government. It will be the first time since 1955 that Indonesians will have a choice on the ballot other than Suharto's ruling Golkar party candidates. The vote will occur in two parts: first, a direct vote on June 7 for parliamentary elections, then a second vote by the parliament for the presidency, which will probably occur in November. Last week, two rallies were held in Jakarta--one by Golkar and the other by an opposition party, Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle, which is run by Megawati Sukarnoputri, the granddaughter of Sukarno (the man Suharto deposed 30 years ago). The Golkar party rally was a dismal failure, while the IDPS rally drew several hundred thousand people (according to several press estimates), in spite of the fact that Megawati is reputed to be an "uninspiring public speaker." Nevertheless, she's no shoe-in for president. Of the 700 seats in the parliament, only 462 are elected by vote. The remaining seats consist of 38 seats held by the military, 135 seats set aside for representatives from provincial legislatures, and 65 seats for representatives elected by "functional" groups--including army veterans and community groups (many of them holdovers from the Suharto period). Megawati also has fierce competition from Amien Rais, who heads the pan-Islamic National Mandate Party. --M.T. Sources: "Naked ambition rife, graft rumoured in rush for palace," Tim Dodd, Financial Review, 5/28/99, and "Rais and Megawati comfortably ahead in presidential race: poll," Reuters, 5/25/99.

In the meantime, thousands of Indonesian students demanding the prosecution of Suharto on corruption charges were chased and beaten by Indonesian police last Friday, on the anniversary of Suharto's ouster. The students were angered by, among other things, a Time Magazine article that estimated Suharto's wealth at more than $9 billion, and a televised interview showing Suharto cavorting in luxury and declaring: "I am healthy and fit, and I have more time to play with my grandchildren. Do you think that I look sad? ... this will be enough investment to take me to heaven when the world ends."--M.T. Source: "Suharto Anniversary Sparks Unrest," Paul Alexander, AP, 5/21/99.

As the East Timor referendum on independence draws closer (it's scheduled for Aug. 7), more evidence emerges that the Indonesian military is working hard to destroy the pro-Independence movement in an effort to sabotage the vote. Reports are widely circulating in Dili that members of the notorious Kopassus assassination squad have crossed from West Timor into East Timor--disguised in civilian clothing--to assist militia groups in their terror campaigns. Even more disturbing, The Australian newspaper intercepted a statement of instructions issued to the militias by Bakin, an Indonesian military intelligence unit. The statement reads: "Massacres should be carried out from village to village soon after the announcement of the ballot if the pro-independence supporters win." It also said that Bakin would provide 1500 M-16 rifles, as well as grenades, mines, and communications equipment to the militias prior to the vote, and that the Indonesian air force would give logistical support from its air base in West Timor. The statement also gave an estimate of the number of militia members currently operating within East Timor: 50,000 (as opposed to 20,000--the number usually cited in the press).

To top it off, U.N. observers in East Timor have witnessed Indonesian soldiers training militia members in the town of Atsabe, 60 miles south of Dili. Journalists in Dili have also watched while the Indonesian military and police give out food and water to militia members hunting pro-Independence activists in the city. Nevertheless, Gen. Wiranto, head of Indonesia's armed forces, denies the charges. Meanwhile, the East Timor referendum could be in danger when a new government takes power in Indonesia next month. Megawati Sukarnoputri and her popular opposition party have proposed that all 210 million Indonesians also be allowed to vote on East Timorese autonomy.--M.T. Sources: "Kopassus accused of Timor slaughter," John Zubrzycki, The Australian, 5/24/99; "Caught red-handed: Jakarta's assassins," Mark Dodd, Sydney Morning Herald, 5/21/99; "Wiranto says troops blameless," Lindsay Murdoch, Sydney Morning Herald, 5/25/99; and "Megawati puts E Timor vote in doubt," John Aglionby, Manchester Guardian Weekly, 5/23/99.