Abdurrahman denies rumors of Marzuki's removal

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)