Solution to Haryanto's case 'strange': Expert<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Legal expert Loebby Loqman said yesterday the
\ngovernment's announcement which cleared Minister of
\nTransportation Haryanto Dhanutirto of alleged financial misdeeds
\nwas \"strange\".<\/p>\n
\"Seen from a legal point of view, the solution to the
\ncorruption charge is strange,\" the lecturer at the University of
\nIndonesia told The Jakarta Post by telephone.<\/p>\n
\"This is a political solution, not a legal one. However, I
\ndon't believe the case would ever be finished if we were to
\npursue it only from a legal perspective,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"President Soeharto probably felt that a political solution is
\nmore appropriate in this case,\" he said. \"He must have believed
\nthat to continue pursuing a legal solution to the case would be
\nharmful politically.\"<\/p>\n
Loebby acknowledged that there were circumstances under which
\na legal case could not be solved through legal mechanisms, but
\nnecessitated a political approach instead.<\/p>\n
\"As this is a political solution, his accountability should
\nthen be pursued through political mechanism, in this case through
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly which gives the President the
\nmandate to run the country,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Loebby also acknowledged that there is bound to be
\ndissatisfaction over the way the government has resolved the
\nmatter. However, \"if the public is still dissatisfied, they
\ncould air it through the Assembly\".<\/p>\n
The Assembly (MPR) convenes once every five year, during which
\nthe President gives his account of duty.<\/p>\n
Political observer Maswadi Rauf, however, said the
\nannouncement clearing Haryanto was far from solving the case. The
\nlecturer at the University of Indonesia said that from either a
\npolitical or legal perspective, \"it is not yet finished\".<\/p>\n
\"This case is not closed yet. It's only considered closed,\" he
\ninsisted.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the legal solution to the case should
\nstill be pursued, if only to show the public that laws are being
\nenforced here.<\/p>\n
He also suggested that what the public needed to know now is
\nto what degree the Inspector General of Development Kentot
\nHarseno's reports of irregularities at the Ministry of
\nTransportation was accurate.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that had a more comprehensive, legal solution
\nbe taken up, the case would not have developed into such a great
\npolitical issue inviting various interpretations from the public.<\/p>\n
Among the various interpretations was one which considered the
\nwhole affair a political plot to destroy a number of people who
\nare close to State Minister for Research and Technology B.J.
\nHabibie. Both Haryanto and Habibie are leaders of the influential
\nAssociation of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI).<\/p>\n
\"It's the government's responsibility to counter such charges
\nby proving the innocence of its people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Haryanto himself was not available for comments yesterday.
\nHordes of reporters waited for him for hours, in vain, both at
\nhis office and at home.<\/p>\n
His staff, including ministry's spokesman Bambang S. Ervan,
\ncould not tell where Haryanto was yesterday.<\/p>\n
When news of irregularities at the transportation ministry
\nbroke, various groups reacted differently.<\/p>\n
There were people, including former student activists grouped
\nat the Fosko 66, who demanded that Haryanto resign.<\/p>\n
There were also people, including his neighbors in Lembang,
\nWest Java, who not only believed Haryanto's innocence, but even
\nconsidered him \"a victim of cruelty\" and said special prayers for
\nhis safety.<\/p>\n
There were still others who acted neutrally and suggested that
\nAttorney General Singgih assign a special team to investigate the
\nallegations.<\/p>\n
The office of the Attorney General has indeed set up such a
\nteam, but it hasn't yet done anything, according to Tiras weekly.<\/p>\n
Loebby pointed out yesterday that there was no point in asking
\nthe Attorney General Office to investigate the case further
\nbecause, structurally, the office is also a part of the executive
\nbranch of power under President Soeharto. (swe\/04)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/solution-to-haryantos-case-strange-expert-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}