Returning legislators play cat and mouse with journalists<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Mounting public criticism over a visit by lawmakers to Egypt
\nappears to have taken its toll on their maturity.<\/p>\n
A game of cat and mouse with journalists at Soekarno-Hatta
\nInternational Airport on Friday appeared to be first on the
\nagenda for the returning legislators.<\/p>\n
Scheduled to touch down at 1:45 p.m, Qatar Airways Flight No.
\n626 from Doha via Singapore was delayed for an hour.<\/p>\n
A staff member at the airport's VIP lounge told journalists
\nthat state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura was to send a
\nbus to transport the lawmakers directly to the nearby Sheraton
\nHotel, rather than to the lounge as is the normal procedure.<\/p>\n
The journalists later split into two groups -- some waiting at
\nthe hotel, others at an exit gate usually used only by the
\nairport's apron crew and restricted to the public.<\/p>\n
With spirits low, the appearance of a blue bus heading slowly
\nout the apron gate at around 3:05 p.m. came as a glimmer of hope
\nfor journalists. But, just as TV cameraman began to get footage a
\nman sitting in the front seat in the left row of the bus was seen
\nsinking down into his seat and covering his forehead as he cast
\nhis eyes downward.<\/p>\n
Suited up and wearing sunglasses, journalists identified him
\nas Choirul Sholeh Rasyid, a legislator from the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB).<\/p>\n
In the right row of the bus, several women wearing headscarves
\nand sunglasses were also observed peering anxiously out the
\nwindow. They were believed to be the lawmakers' wives, who
\nreportedly accompanied them on the visit.<\/p>\n
In one car, the journalists followed the bus. The bus changed
\ndirection several times, turning into the parking lot of a
\nstorage building.<\/p>\n
With a truck between them and three minutes
\nstuck at a parking gate, the bus transporting the lawmakers went
\nout of view. The bus was however spotted once again driving back
\ninto the airport's apron area.<\/p>\n
Contacted by The Jakarta Post through his cellular phone,
\nChoirul admitted that the lawmakers were playing cat and mouse
\nwith the journalists because they were not ready to be
\ninterviewed.<\/p>\n
"Yes, we were indeed trying to evade you because we weren't
\nready to face journalists. But it was the secretariat staff who
\ncommanded us to hide from the journalists," he argued.<\/p>\n
Choirul said four lawmakers had stayed in Singapore on Friday,
\nbut he had forgotten their names. Legislator Djoko Edhi Sucipto
\nhad returned on Wednesday as his party, the National Mandate
\nParty (PAN), decided to recall him from the House of
\nRepresentatives for joining the visit along with other 14
\nlawmakers.<\/p>\n
However, the latest data shows there were 24 delegates on the
\nEgypt trip in total, including the lawmakers' wives.<\/p>\n
The visit, which cost US$76,170, drew harsh criticism from
\nfellow legislators and the public after the delegates denied the
\nvisit would go ahead, but then left quietly for Egypt.<\/p>\n
The admonishment increased when an itinerary for the visit
\nrevealed the lawmakers were not traveling on state business.<\/p>\n
Criticism of the visit continued on Friday when a
\ngroup of people from an association of Indonesian constituents
\nfiled a report with the House's disciplinary committee,
\nrequesting it impose sanctions on the 15 lawmakers.<\/p>\n
Political analyst Arbi Sanit from the University of Indonesia
\nsaid other parties should follow PAN's example by recalling
\nlegislators who were among the delegates.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/returning-legislators-play-cat-and-mouse-with-journalists-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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