Gus Dur mulls beginning of antigraft commission<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid sent out a warning
\nto all corrupt state officials and legislators on Tuesday to be
\nprepared to face tough action as he would appoint strict and
\nclean enforcers to lead the charge in weeding out corruption.<\/p>\n
Speaking at consultative meeting with House of Representatives
\n(DPR) leaders at the State Palace, the President expressed
\nconfidence that with the assistance of new officials, the
\ngovernment could accelerate antigraft measures.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said he would propose the Indonesian ambassador to
\nSaudi Arabia, Baharuddin Lopa, to chair a commission to examine
\nthe wealth of state officials.<\/p>\n
He said officials would think twice before accepting bribes if
\nthey knew they had to face the former chairman of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n
He praised Baharuddin, who is also a former prosecutor, saying
\nhe would never hesitate to punish corruptors.<\/p>\n
\"If he were to lead the commission, I'm sure all would fear
\nhim,\" Abdurrahman said during the five-hour consultation meeting.<\/p>\n
The 1999 law on clean governance sets the establishment of an
\nindependent commission with at least 25 members to audit the
\nwealth of state officials.<\/p>\n
Commission members must be approved by the House before being
\nsworn in by the President. Its main duty is to investigate the
\nwealth of state officials before and after assuming their
\npositions.<\/p>\n
According to House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, the House had to
\ndate short-listed 45 out of 122 candidates proposed by the
\ngovernment on Jan. 6.<\/p>\n
Apparently Baharaduddin's name is not on the list.<\/p>\n
\"If you want to nominate Baharuddin Lopa, then you must send a
\nnew proposal to the House,\" Akbar reminded the President.<\/p>\n
The President also repeated his intention to nominate National
\nCommission on Human Rights member Benjamin Mangkoedilaga as new
\nchief justice of the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
Benjamin made headlines in 1995 when, as judge at the Jakarta
\nState Administrative Court, he ruled against the government's
\ndecision to revoke the publishing license of Tempo magazine.<\/p>\n
His reputation as an honest and courageous judge remains
\nintact even though the Supreme Court eventually overturned his
\ndecision.<\/p>\n
If the House approves his nomination, he will succeed Air Vice
\nMarshall (ret.) Sarwata, who has held the position since 1996.<\/p>\n
\"I hope (with Benjamin's leadership) the Supreme Court will
\nnot be like it is now,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
He also hoped that Anton Sujata, former deputy attorney
\ngeneral of special crimes, who lost his job for his tough actions
\nwhile investigating president Soeharto for alleged corruption,
\nwould soon be appointed as ombudsman.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman also said he wanted professor of law J.E. Sahetapy
\nto lead the proposed National Commission of Law, the main task of
\nwhich will be to evaluate the nation's legal products.<\/p>\n
\"If they are still not enough, I will also add to the list
\nCabinet Secretary Marsilam Simajuntak, whose brashness
\nis unimaginable,\" Abdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
The President also disclosed his desire to entirely replace
\nthe 45 members of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA), saying they
\nwere aging people who gave useless advice.<\/p>\n
\"It was a place to reward aging people who were heading toward
\nretirement,\" he cynically remarked.<\/p>\n
The consultation has become a new tradition under the new
\nleadership and the resurgent House.<\/p>\n
Also present during Tuesday's meeting were, among others, Vice
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri, Minister of Home Affairs
\nSurjadi Soedirdja and Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo.<\/p>\n
The House delegation included deputy speaker A.M. Fatwa and
\nRaja Kami Sembiring from the Indonesian Democratic of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) and leaders of the 10 House factions.<\/p>\n
But the five-hour proceedings were evidently sometimes
\nphysically a bit too much for Abdurrahman as he was seen slumped
\nover several times through the various statements delivered.<\/p>\n
Megawati was seen pinching the President in an apparent
\nattempt to stir the slumped over Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
When the speeches and statements from House members finished
\nand it was Abdurrahman's turn to respond, the President calmly
\nreplied: \"Before giving my answers, I think it is better if we
\nhave lunch first.\"<\/p>\n
During the meeting Akbar advised the President to refrain from
\nmaking confusing statements and making too many jokes at such a
\nserious meeting.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, however, defended his humorous approach with
\nanother quip.<\/p>\n
\"Every morning I pray for Abunawas and I hope I can learn from
\nhis wisdom,\" he said, referring to the jesting Arabian folklore
\nfigure. He said the light approach was part of diplomacy.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman also brushed aside Akbar's criticism of his
\nrelentless overseas travels.<\/p>\n
\"Don't worry, my plans for overseas tours still continue,\" the
\nPresident said and laughed. (prb)<\/p>",
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