Abdurrahman denies rumors of Marzuki's removal

JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Marzuki Darusman emerged from the end of President Abdurrahman Wahid's March deadline on Saturday with his job, for now, largely intact.

Speaking to reporters at Merdeka Palace, President Abdurrahman denied speculation that Marzuki, who has been under fire for failing to resolve major corruption cases, would soon be replaced.

"No, there will not be any replacement," Abdurrahman said when asked about Marzuki's status.

The President, who is also under intense pressure to resign over his erratic leadership, said on March 19 that he had given Marzuki until the end of March to act on major corruption cases.

He said that Marzuki's work had become almost indefensible and that the President was under pressure to replace the former rights campaigner for failing to bring top political figures accused of corruption and human rights abuses to trial.

It was far from clear whether the President's statement on Saturday was prompted by steps taken by the Attorney General's Office over the last 10 days or merely represents a delay before Marzuki finally gets the axe.

Several former high-ranking officials including two former cabinet ministers under then president Soeharto, Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Ali Wardana, were named suspects by prosecutors earlier this week for alleged involvement in corruption.

Marzuki denied on Friday that the move was part of a maneuver by him to stay in office saying that "what has been happening is the result of a long process of investigation".

Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D., however, said that Marzuki would likely be dismissed in the near future.

"The government needs an Attorney General who doesn't have psychological and political difficulties in making firm decisions concerning the performance of his duties," Mahfud told reporters on the sidelines of a coordinating meeting for the dissemination of information on regional autonomy held in Yogyakarta's Hyatt Regency Hotel.

He suggested that the newly-appointed Minister of Justice and Human Rights Baharuddin Lopa swap positions with Marzuki.

Meanwhile, the secretary-general of Abdurrahman's National Awakening Party (PKB), Muhaimin Iskandar, said later in the day that his party was among those calling on the President to immediately dismiss Marzuki.

"We have told the President that removing Marzuki from the Attorney General's Office is the devout wish of the students, NGOs and the general public," Muhaimin told reporters after a meeting at the PKB's offices here, which was also attended by Abdurrahman.

Asked about the President's reaction to the demand, Muhaimin said: "The President only said that (Marzuki) is being evaluated."

Marzuki, who is also the deputy chairman of Golkar, has been accused by the President's supporters of being too slow and reluctant to take stern measures against those allegedly involved in corruption.

The prosecution of high profile corruption cases, particularly those that took place during the New Order era, is one of the tasks assigned to Abdurrahman when he took office in October 1999 and which could become a high profile political commodity in his bid to fight off attacks on his presidency.

The Attorney General's Office has been under fire for failing to bring former president Soeharto to trial for corruption.

There is also pressure to bring top military and police officers to court for alleged human rights abuses in the former Indonesian province of East Timor.

To make matters worse, attempts to detain Soeharto's youngest son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, who was convicted on corruption charges, were completely bungled with Tommy still remaining at large. (byg/44)