PDI-P defends decision to delay inquiry on Akbar<\/p>\n
Annastashya Emmanuelle and Fabiola Desi Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nhas defended the delay in deciding whether or not to set up an
\ninquiry committee to probe the Bulog scandal allegedly involving
\nHouse of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy B. Janis said it was the
\nonly possible choice as it allowed for the possible formation of
\nthe committee in the future, while at the same time keeping the
\npolitical coalition intact.<\/p>\n
The party preferred to have a consensus as each political
\nparty at the House had its own interests, Roy told The Jakarta
\nPost on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He strongly denied speculation of a split within the party,
\nsaying that the party remained committed to going ahead with its
\nsupport for the establishment of the House committee to
\ninvestigate Akbar's alleged involvement in the high-profile
\nfinancial scandal.<\/p>\n
Roy made the remarks in response to the House's failure to
\nestablish the committee of inquiry, known by its Indonesian
\nacronym Pansus, by agreeing to delay debating the issue until the
\nnext House session in May.<\/p>\n
The decision, due to Golkar's lobbying, constituted another
\nblow for Indonesia's struggle in seeking justice in the case.<\/p>\n
Akbar, who is also chairman of Golkar, is now in the custody
\nof the Attorney General's Office. His trial is scheduled to start
\non March 25.<\/p>\n
Golkar, the political machine of former dictator Soeharto
\nduring his 32-year tenure, is trying to avoid the inquiry
\ncommittee to protect Akbar's political career and the very
\nexistence of the party itself.<\/p>\n
Roy said that judging from the vote counting during Monday's
\nHouse session, the plan would have been rejected as not enough
\nPDI Perjuangan legislators showed up to vote in favor of it. A
\nrejection of the plan implies that the efforts will completely
\nend.<\/p>\n
\"However, we should learn to see that the problem is no longer
\nin executive or legislative hands as the case has entered the
\ncourts, which is an independent judicative body that cannot be
\ninfluenced by others.\"<\/p>\n
Another legislator said that the consensus for the delay was
\ntaken for the sake of maintaining President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's rainbow Cabinet, which is supported by
\nrepresentatives of many parties, including Golkar, the second
\nlargest faction in the House after PDI Perjuangan.<\/p>\n
The legislator said that the final statement read out by House
\ndeputy speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno for the delay was drafted
\nby Ali Masykur Moesa, the chairman of the National Awakening
\nParty (PKB) faction, the strong supporter of 50 inter-faction
\nlegislators who demanded the establishment of the committee.<\/p>\n
\"Under this strategy, we are actually hanging Golkar Party for
\nthe next two months and it will be difficult for it to decide its
\nnext political move as the House did not decide anything,\" the
\nlegislator told the Post on the condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n
However, a former member of the National Mandate Party (PAN),
\nBara Hasibuan, said that the delay reflected a conspiracy to
\ncover an organized political crime.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan was the most disappointing for its
\nindecisiveness and failure to uphold the law in relation to
\ncorruption eradication, Bara said.<\/p>\n
\"PDI Perjuangan is more afraid of losing Golkar's support than
\nthe peoples,\" he said.<\/p>",
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