Ghalib named new attorney general<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie yesterday replaced
\nAttorney General Soedjono C. Atmonegoro with the head of the
\nArmed Forces (ABRI) prosecutor's office, Maj. Gen. Muhammad
\nGhalib.<\/p>\n
The move has raised eyebrows since Soedjono was one of the old
\nfaces retained by President B.J. Habibie when he announced his
\nnew Cabinet just three weeks ago.<\/p>\n
The transfer was made public by Minister\/State Secretary Akbar
\nTandjung who announced that the move was mandated in Presidential
\nDecree No. 145.<\/p>\n
There was no specific reason given for the move.<\/p>\n
But he was quick to dispel suggestions that the replacement
\nwas connected to an investigation recently launched by the
\nAttorney General's Office into alleged corruption by former
\npresident Soeharto and his officials.<\/p>\n
\"It is not true, there is no relation at all,\" Akbar asserted
\nafter accompanying Ghalib and Soedjono in their meeting with
\nHabibie at the Bina Graha presidential office.<\/p>\n
Soedjono, sworn in by Soeharto on March 19, announced early
\nthis month that his office had launched a massive investigation
\ninto corruption during Soeharto's 32-year rule.<\/p>\n
Soedjono also disclosed last week that Soeharto had appointed
\nYohanes Yacob as a counselor to face immense criticism against
\nhim.<\/p>\n
Habibie's government is facing mounting public pressure to
\ntake Soeharto to court over the former president's accumulated
\nwealth to help starving people.<\/p>\n
After meeting with Habibie last week, Soedjono gave no
\nindication he was to be removed and even said he had proposed
\nthat his office become a separate and independent institution.<\/p>\n
Akbar had nothing but praise for Soedjono, who is due to
\nofficially hand over his post this week.<\/p>\n
\"The President deeply appreciates his very proactive attitude
\nin responding to the policies of the Reform Development Cabinet
\nin granting amnesty for political prisoners and dropping charges
\nagainst political detainees,\" Akbar remarked.<\/p>\n
Akbar ducked questions on why Habibie had chosen an Army two-
\nstar general and not a civilian prosecutor, saying only that \"the
\nPresident has considered various aspects and sides. This is the
\nbest choice.\"<\/p>\n
Akbar also denied that Ghalib's appointment was influenced by
\nsuggestions from third parties, including from ABRI.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the morning, Minister of Defense and Security\/Armed
\nForces Commander Gen. Wiranto unexpectedly met with the President
\nbut declined to talk much to journalists.<\/p>\n
\"There will be big announcement this week,\" Wiranto remarked
\nsmilingly as he walked away from chasing journalists.<\/p>\n
Like Habibie, Ghalib is also a native of South Sulawesi. He
\nwas born in Bone on Jun. 3, 1946.<\/p>\n
He was director of the Academy of Military Law before serving
\nas South Sulawesi deputy governor between 1992 and 1997.<\/p>\n
He then returned to Jakarta to head the Armed Forces
\nprosecutor's office and the Armed Forces Law Development Body.<\/p>\n
Both Soedjono and Ghalib refused to talk to the media after
\nmeeting with Habibie yesterday.<\/p>\n
Akbar indicated that Soedjono's career in the government may
\nnot be over just yet.<\/p>\n
\"The President is giving very serious attention to Pak
\nSoedjono's future,\" he said. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ghalib-named-new-attorney-general-1447893297",
"image": ""
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