223 pass first screening for KPTPK
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Almost more than half of the 513 people seeking seats on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPTPK) passed the first screening stage, it was announced Sunday.
Selection committee chairman Romli Atmasasmita said a total of 223 out of 513 aspirants met the administrative requirements and will thus undergo now undergo selection tests and public scrutiny.
"The public are now encouraged to provide their input and opinions (of the candidates) from Oct. 27 through Nov. 26," said Romli, who was accompanied by committee deputy chairpersons Abdulgani Abdullah and Adnan Buyung Nasution.
Those who passed the administrative screening included the chairman of the Transparency International Indonesia (TII), Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas, Partnership for Governance Reform activist Bambang Widjojanto, former justice minister Marsilam Simanjuntak, lawyer Indra Sahnun Lubis, and retired police officer Insp. Gen. (ret) Momo Kelana.
Romli, who heads the National Law Development Board (BPHN) at the justice and human right ministry, said that the 223 figures would be invited to produce papers explaining their visions and missions, the strategies they would employ to eradicate corruption, and their previous experience in combating corruption.
"All of them will be examined," Romli was quoted by Antara as saying Sunday.
He disclosed that the administrative screening process was conducted jointly by all committee members. The decisions were arrived at by the committee through consensus rather than a vote.
Meanwhile, Buyung said the committee would not reveal the detailed reasons behind the committee's decision to disqualify more than half of the total number of applicants.
"But if the public want to know the reasons, we will give explanations," he said.
Regarding the presentation of papers during the next screening stage, Buyung said that this was not merely aimed at ascertaining the candidates' visions and missions, but also finding out more about their characters.
The selection committee has prepared a schedule for the selection process.
Based on Presidential Decree No.73/2003 on the composition of the selection committee, the committee is headed by Romli Atmasasmita, who has two deputies, Abdulgani and Buyung.
The secretary of the committee is Abdul Wahid, while its members are criminal law experts Loebby Loeqman, Komaruddin, Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, Ansari Ritonga, Moegihardjo, Basrief Arif, Insp. Gen. Sukamto, Andi Hamzah, and lawyers Todung Mulya Lubis and Indrianto Seno Adji.
The are widespread doubts as to whether the new commission will be able to effectively combat corruption in the country. Indonesia ranks sixth on the list of the world's most corrupt countries.
The selection committee had only 57 days to establish the commission with 20 of these having been spent on the registration stage.
The committee will select 10 candidates to sit on the KPTPK executive board after they have first been screened for their credibility, integrity and track records.
The team will have to submit the names of 10 candidates by Dec. 5 to President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who will select five and submit them to the House of Representatives for approval.
The commission is expected to have started its work by Dec. 27.
According to Law No. 30/2002 on the Corruption Eradication Commission, the House must endorse the five candidates within three months of their nomination by the President.