Akbar's detention and the President<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's Office surprised a lot of people. After
\nRahardi Ramelan had been incarcerated at Cipinang penitentiary,
\nyesterday it was Akbar Tandjung's turn to be detained by the
\nAttorney General's Office. This decision was made while the
\npeople's representatives, depending on where their own interests
\nlay, argued about whether they had to form a Special Committee to
\ninvestigate the graft case allegedly involving Akbar.<\/p>\n
The result was that the House of Representatives opted to buy
\ntime and adjourn the matter rather than making a decision.
\nAkbar's case is a monumental example of how a simple matter
\nbecomes complicated due to a mixture of legal and political
\nconsiderations.<\/p>\n
For the National Awakening Party (PKB), Akbar Tandjung should
\nface two charges at the same time. The party thinks he should not
\nonly be investigated politically by a Special Committee but also
\nprocessed legally.<\/p>\n
For the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) and the United Development Party (PPP), it would be
\nbest if Akbar Tandjung was cleared politically but had to go
\nthrough the legal process.<\/p>\n
Therefore, Akbar's detention is a political rescue for both
\nPDI Perjuangan and PPP. Both are safe because they need not take
\nany political decisions in the House.<\/p>\n
What the public is waiting for is President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's explanation on why Akbar Tandjung has been
\ndetained.<\/p>\n
Many people are beginning to believe that Megawati has a
\nhidden agenda, which is understandable considering that the
\nestablishment of her administration resulted from a coalition
\nthat is now being threatened. There seems to be a likelihood of
\nthe resignation of Golkar ministers from the Cabinet and a Golkar
\nboycott of Megawati's administration.<\/p>\n
Thus, on the level of the government, the coalition is
\nillogical and unrealistic if Megawati -- the chairwoman of the
\ncountry's largest party as well as the President -- does not
\noffer an explanation to the public. There should not be the
\nassumption that the President has a secret agenda.<\/p>\n
A national leader is required to have the moral courage to
\noffer clear explanations to the public.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/akbars-detention-and-the-president-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }