Prabowo does not get special treatment

Minister of Industry and Trade Luhut B. Pandjaitan said the government gave equal treatment to all Indonesian companies wanting to participate in the barter trade with Iraq, and he denied accusation that the government gave special treatment for a company belonging to Prabowo Subianto.

Luhut confirmed that only Indonesian companies are allowed to participate in the barter trade, and he explained that Golden Spike Energy Indonesia Ltd., in which former commander of the Army Special Force (Kopassus) Prabowo has a stake, is an Indonesian entity

Golden Spike Energy is one of ten companies chosen by the government to import crude oil from Iraq.

Luhut also denied accusation that he had personally chosen Prabowo's company to take part in the barter trade with Iraq.

Indonesia and Iraq had agreed to pursue a barter trade worth US$500 million this year under the UN's oil for food programs. Under the barter contract, Iraq will export crude to Indonesia, and in returns, Indonesia will export food and medicines to Iraq. (*)