Indonesia's Parliament speaker, Akbar Tandjung, has gone on trial in a corruption case involving $4 million in embezzled state funds. 

Mr. Tandjung is charged with abuse of power and graft for diverting funds intended to help the poor, allegedly steering the money instead to his political party, Golkar. If convicted, he faces a 20-year prison sentence. 

Mr. Tandjung, one of the highest-level Indonesian officials detained on a graft charge in years, says he is innocent of any wrong-doing. He has been held in a cell at the Indonesian attorney general's offices in Jakarta (the capital) since March 7. 

Prosecutors say the money that Mr. Tandjung is accused of diverting went to finance a Golkar election campaign (in 1999). The party, which Mr. Tandjung now leads as general chairman, dominated Indonesian politics for more than 30 years during the rule of its founder, former President Suharto. But since Mr. Suharto was swept from power in 1998, Golkar has been trying to find a new identity. 

Some observers feel the case against Mr. Tandjung is more about politics than corruption. Golkar is the most important partner in President Megawati Sukarnoputri's ruling coalition, which holds a majority of seats in Parliament. 

The alliance has held together, despite Golkar's threat earlier this month to leave the government over Mr. Tandjung's detention. 

Some analysts say the coalition has survived because both Golkar and Ms. Sukarnoputri's (PDI-P) party have an interest in maintaining their alliance, at least until the next elections, scheduled in 2004. 

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