1. LAW: 40 x 1 line
1. LAW: 40 x 1 line Justice Manan hails judicial commission creation The country's judiciary, especially its judges, has long been criticized for its dependence on the executive body.
Its lack of independence is mainly because the judges' recruitment and administration are in the hands of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, with a little supervisory power by the Supreme Court.
In an attempt to establish an independent judiciary, Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan and noted lawyer Frans Hendra Winarta have said that the establishment of an independent judicial commission is essential to avoid government intervention in local courts.
2. MEGA: 40 x 1 line PDI Perjuangan members defy chairwoman Megawati Members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) have got a boost of confidence to challenge chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri after their latest expression of defiance was ignored by Megawati.
After publicly ignoring Megawati's instruction during the vote for the establishment of the House of Representatives' special committee to probe a graft case last Monday, legislators were assured that there would be no sanctions imposed on them.
"The chairwoman considers that the problem is over," the party's faction chairman at the People's Consultative Assembly, Arifin Panigoro, said on Saturday.
3. DRUGS: 40 x 1 line War on drugs needs serious shock therapy: Expert Rianti Surya, 58, a mother of eight children, was bitter when asked about her opinion of drug abuse. Two of her five sons have died at 23 and 18 respectively because of overdoses and pneumonia caused by drug abuse.
"I don't know what's wrong with this country. I've lost my sons but drug dealers are still free to distribute their evil wares in my neighborhood," she told The Jakarta Post with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Rianti, who lives in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, said that her youngest son would have to spend the next three years in jail after he pleaded guilty to possessing heroin during a car race.
"Drugs have jeopardized my life and thrown my family into misery," she said.