Ginandjar Kartasasmita has supernatural powers. They are called military privilege. The former mines and energy minister has taken a back seat from government since former president B.J. Habibie left office. But his influence has not gone. He is a deputy speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and still a leading light in the former ruling Golkar party.

He is still hard to touch. He has had the better of another Golkar chief, A