Another Cabinet shake-up on Tuesday: Minister<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The nation is set to witness yet another Cabinet
\nreshuffle involving not only the vacant post of attorney general,
\nbut also other ministries, a senior Cabinet minister revealed.<\/p>\n
The next reshuffle, prompted primarily by the sudden death of
\nAttorney General Baharuddin Lopa, is expected to take place on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab confirmed on Sunday
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid's intention to announce the new
\nattorney general on Tuesday, as well as the replacement of
\nseveral ministers.<\/p>\n
"The next shake-up may involve the minister of defense and
\nminister of justice and human rights," Alwi, who is also
\nAbdurrahman's close confidante, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.<\/p>\n
"However, there has yet to be any specific decision," he
\nquickly added.<\/p>\n
"But I want to underline that this is not a Cabinet reshuffle,
\nbecause the changes will be conducted in line with the vacancy in
\nthe position of attorney general," he remarked.<\/p>\n
Alwi also said the most likely candidate to fill the attorney
\ngeneral position would be Marsillam Simanjuntak, the current
\nminister of justice and human rights.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Minister of Defense Mahfud MD. said in Pamekasan,
\nEast Java, on Saturday that he had been offered either
\nMarsillam's position or the attorney general post by the
\nPresident, but he had yet to reply to Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
"I was summoned by the President and he offered me the
\nposition of justice minister or attorney general. But, it is up
\nto the President, I haven't responded yet to the offer," Mahfud
\nsaid as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
There have also been reports that the position of minister of
\ndefense could once again be held by a military officer, thus
\nprompting Abdurrahman to move Mahfud to a different portfolio.<\/p>\n
Alwi did not deny the possibility of a military officer taking
\nup the position of minister of defense, saying "We are still
\ndiscussing it, it is not certain yet."<\/p>\n
Mahfud also echoed Alwi, saying that the announcement of the
\nministerial changes could be made on Tuesday, along with the
\nannouncement of the name of the new attorney general.<\/p>\n
He also noted that the shake-up would be a realistic move,
\ndespite the People's Consultative Assembly special session being
\nless than three weeks away.<\/p>\n
Should Abdurrahman's accountability be rejected during the
\nspecial session, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri would
\nreplace him as president.<\/p>\n
"We should not assume that something extraordinary will happen
\nin the special session, because even during the session there is
\nstill a chance of political compromise," Mahfud remarked.<\/p>\n
He said that many other candidates were also suitable as
\nattorney general, such as noted lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis or
\ncurrent expert staff member at the Attorney General's Office
\nAhmad Ali, who is a professor of law at the University of
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
"Whoever is appointed as attorney general should follow the
\nfootsteps of the late Baharuddin Lopa in fighting corruption, and
\nthe person should not mix legal enforcement with politics,"
\nMahfud said. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/another-cabinet-shake-up-on-tuesday-minister-1447893297",
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