18 legislators to screen KPK aspirants

18 legislators to screen KPK aspirants

JAKARTA: Eighteen legislators have been assigned to examine
the track records of 10 candidates aspiring to gain five seats in
the planned Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

A. Teras Narang, chairman of the House of Representatives'
Commission II for legal and home affairs, said on Wednesday that
the lawmakers would be split into five teams, each investigating
two candidates.

"We will visit their residences and each candidate must fill
out wealth reports, which will be cross-examined on Monday and
Tuesday," Teras Narang said.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri submitted the names of 10
candidates to the House, which is to select five as leaders of
the planned anticorruption body to be set up later this month.

Teras Narang said the House would also require each candidate
to sign a statement declaring that they had never been involved
in any corrupt practices.

The candidates will be interviewed by legislators in sessions
open to the public. Teras Narang also said he could not guarantee
that legislators would put aside their political interests in the
selection of candidates.

The KPK has the authority to investigate corruption cases and
prosecute alleged corrupters. Currently it is the police and
prosecutors who have such authority. -- JP

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Scene-tolerance-award
Gus Dur receives tolerance award
JP/4/scene

Gus Dur receives tolerance award

JAKARTA: Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid received
the Global Tolerance Award from "Friends of the United Nations"
in New York, the United States, on Wednesday.

The handing-over ceremony was held at the United Nations
Headquarters in conjunction with World Human Rights Day, Antara
reported from New York on Wednesday.

The award was given by a non-governmental organization in
recognition of Gus Dur's activities in promoting interreligious
and cultural cooperation in the world.

The former president has encouraged civil societies to create
peace, tolerance and solidarity, the committee said.

Other figures to receive the award include Ramaz Aptsiauri of
the Republic of Georgia and Richard Steckel of Bermuda.

Gus Dur replaced BJ Habibie as president in October 1999.

The People's Consultative Assembly, however, removed Gus Dur
in July 2001.

Gus Dur, who once headed the country's largest Islamic
organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama, was then replaced by his vice
president, Megawati Soekarnoputri. --Antara