Where are all the laughter and hand clapping of yesteryear? They have all but disappeared from Golkar's party headquarters in Slipi, West Jakarta. It's as if the former political vehicle of the Suharto regime is black and blue, within and without.

Two weeks ago, President Abdurrahman Wahid gave the attorney general his blessing to investigate the involvement of its chairman Akbar Tandjung in a legal case which smelt of corruption. To date Akba