AGO told to tolerate criticism<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono has spoken out
\nagainst Thursday's commotion between legislators and the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office (AGO), asserting that state officials should be
\nprepared to take criticism.<\/p>\n
Responding to Thursday's incident between legislators and
\nAttorney General Abdul Rachman Saleh, Agung said that it was
\npurely a case of miscommunication.<\/p>\n
"What happened was just a misunderstanding over the language
\nused. It was merely an expression of our discontent over the
\nperformance of prosecutors in dealing with corruption cases," he
\nsaid on Friday.<\/p>\n
A brief commotion ended a five-hour meeting between
\nlegislators and the AGO on Thursday, when a House member from the
\nReform Star Party depicted Abdul as "an Islamic preacher in a
\nvillage of thieves".<\/p>\n
The remark, which was made a couple of times, followed
\nlegislators' repeated accusations that prosecutors had used
\nblackmail and politicized corruption cases in regional areas.<\/p>\n
Abdul said the remark was inappropriate and hurtful, and he
\nwanted it withdrawn, a demand legislators refused to meet. A
\ncouple of high-ranking prosecutors then stood up and called out
\nto legislators, demanding respect.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Agung also called on legislators to convey their
\ncriticisms politely to avoid misunderstandings.<\/p>\n
Other House members, including from the National Mandate Party
\nand United Development Party factions, expressed their
\ndisappointment and asked President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to
\ntake stern action against the AGO.<\/p>\n
They said Abdul had failed to control to calm his subordinates
\nand that his position was beyond his capabilities.<\/p>\n
The House's disciplinary council is scheduled to hold a
\nmeeting next Tuesday to discuss the incident before taking
\nfurther action.<\/p>\n
The discussion, said board chairman Slamet Effendy Yusuf,
\nwould likely focus on whether the incident was in contempt of the
\nlegislature.<\/p>\n
Separately, Abdul Rahman said he had reported the incident to
\nthe President, and maintained his stance that the remark was
\nunethical and inappropriate.<\/p>\n
"The President wants all government officials to maintain good
\nand constructive relationships with the House. But we'll need to
\nbegin a new era in which there is mutual respect and ethics and
\netiquette are upheld," he said.<\/p>\n
He said his office would continue investigating corruption
\ncases and prosecute the guilty parties, regardless of their
\naffiliations.<\/p>",
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